Innovation Growth Market 200 Programme Launched

Minister of Energy and Business Development, Senator Lisa Cummins, has unveiled plans for a national financing partnership to boost micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), promising stronger access to capital and growth opportunities.

Speaking at Friday’s launch of the Innovation Growth Market 200 Programme (IGM200) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Cummins said the initiative will unite banks, credit unions, state agencies, and private investors in a coordinated effort.

“It is my intention as Minister of Energy and Business to create a national MSME financing partnership. It must be a coalition among our financial institutions—Fund Access, Trust Loans, commercial banks, bankers’ association, and the credit unions that have been the backbone of our small business community,” she told the audience.

The partnership will focus on three pillars: an MSME equity finance readiness programme offering investor training and governance support; a growth and co-financing facility blending debt, equity, and technical assistance; and what Cummins called “the holy trinity”—a National MSME Support Alliance linking financial institutions, business groups, and development partners.

“Fund Access will have to play a broad risk-sharing role, while the banks and credit unions will be called on to invest alongside private investors,” she said.

The Support Alliance will help build business clusters, strengthen export readiness, and educate investors on opportunities in the MSME sector.

“Together, this triad will work hand in hand with our business organisations and investors to anchor the IGM as a national engine of growth,” Cummins added.