In the context of the National Package, St. Maarten is working on various projects to stimulate and strengthen the entrepreneurial climate and the economy. To that end, reforms are being carried out to diversify the economy, promote innovation, attract investments, and improve the entrepreneurial climate. In addition, efforts are being made to enhance the competitiveness and the sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For this, there are sector-oriented and competency-specific training courses on offer. These initiatives are included in the Advanced Education Programme and the Agri Business Academy, which focus on established businesses.
Image: © Tijdelijke Werkorganisatie / Picture This Photography
Avril Isaac has been a Senior Policy Adviser at the Ministry of Economy, Transport and Telecommunications for eight years already. Her role comprises policy supervision and governance to ensure that the project implementation is in line with the National Package. As a proud employee on this project, she aims to create a permanent impact that transforms the entrepreneurial mentality, by demonstrating that emerging sectors like fisheries and poultry can be viable economic sectors.
Expand resilience
"The Advanced Education Programme was designed to improve competencies in the area of business management, financial management, market readiness, and digital project management. The programme also deals with important themes like energy efficiency and sustainability. Moreover, it focuses on new and emerging sectors, e.g. the orange economy and the fisheries and poultry sectors, which had previously not been included in SME training courses. These sectors have the potential of significantly changing the entrepreneurial landscape of St. Maarten. Since December 2025 more than 70 entrepreneurs have been trained", according to Avril Isaac. She has been employed as a Senior Policy Adviser at TEATT for eight years already.
Avril is proud to work on this topic. "It was important to me to contribute to the implementation of this project because it focuses on the strengthening of economic reforms and the enhancement of resilience. Given the very limited budget of the government of St. Maarten, I considered this an ideal opportunity to make a meaningful impact on crucial sectors of the economy". A specific example of this is the Agri Business Academy, which focuses on business management of agricultural entrepreneurs.
Food security and diversification
The programmes align with the policy framework of TEATT by promoting diversification in the sectors and by improving access to financing. "A sectoral approach was chosen to safeguard the policy and to simultaneously support food security. The selected sectors - fisheries, poultry, light manufacturing industry, and the orange economy - were directly linked to the National Agricultural, Livestock and Fisheries Policy (2021) and the National SME Policy Framework (2021). Both identify food security and diversification as key pillars for the development of St. Maarten", Avril explains. Both the Advanced Education Programme and the Agri Business Academy have the potential of contributing to increased tax revenue, and this offers more possibilities of reinvestment. "It creates the basis for a more robust SME climate and sustainable socio-economic development".
Sector selection
The sector selection is not random: "The focus on these sectors was determined by stakeholder consultations, considering the vulnerability of St. Maarten to natural disasters, the significant dependency on food import, and increasing energy costs. The strengthening of sectors that contribute to food security, climate resilience, and added value to the primary and tourism sector turned out to be essential. This focus supports the transition to a more local production and a diversified, resilient economy", she continues.
Inclusivity
o recruit a diverse selection of participants for the Advanced Education Programme, a targeted campaign was carried out to reach under-represented entrepreneurs. "The business community of St. Maarten is highly diverse, with entrepreneurs who speak Spanish, Haitian, Indian and other languages - often with English as a second language. Language barriers were identified as structural impediments for effective business communication, access to financing, and participation in training. That is why a Business English Programme was offered to stimulate participation of this group in formal business processes", explains Avril. "Inclusivity remains a core principle: outreach strategies and selection were designed to guarantee equal access for women and young entrepreneurs. SMEs owned by migrants within the programmes are an investment in the economy of St. Maarten and will continue after conclusion of the National Package. "To safeguard continuity after 2027, the implementation model of the Foundation St. Maarten Entrepreneurship Development Centre comprises a sustainability mechanism: local coaches are registered at the centre as certified trainers, ensuring the dependency on external parties is reduced and the local capacity increases".