Empowering Our Entrepreneurs for a Resilient Future
It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2025 and Republic Bank is thrilled to be a part of this global observance and movement to champion innovation, inclusion, and economic empowerment.
Entrepreneurship: The Heartbeat of Our Communities
As we reflect on our myriad partnerships that enable us to serve our entrepreneurs and provide both financial solutions and non-financial support, this year’s theme, “Together We Build,” resonates deeply with us.
Entrepreneurship is the heartbeat of our region. Statistics from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) confirm that Caribbean entrepreneurship – dominated by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) – make up 70-85% of businesses, contribute 60-70% to GDP, and account for 50% of employment. Moreover, women own about 40% of Caribbean businesses.
Similarly, in Ghana where Republic Bank has a strong presence, entrepreneurial activity is also high. A 2021 Enterprise Bureau report revealed almost half of employed people (49.2%) owned businesses. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) being the mainstay of the economy, account for about 92% of all businesses, employing over 80% of the workforce, and contributing approximately 70% to GDP. Female entrepreneurs are also prominent, with women owning 44% of MSMEs and a 37.2% share of all business owners.
Across our communities, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and thriving, with huge potential to scale. Entrepreneurship, however, cannot and does not occur in isolation. From the entrepreneurs themselves, to financial institutions, governments, and the wider support of communities, building together is an imperative for sustained success.
Our Commitment
As a signatory to the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Banking, Republic Bank actively supports and contributes the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG2: Zero hunger and SDG17: Partnership for goals.
One advantage of being the largest Caribbean bank and a lead financial institution in the region, is the opportunity to facilitate impactful collaborations that enable us to sustain this commitment to entrepreneurs leading ventures of all sizes.
Creating meaningful networks where “Together we Build” Entrepreneurs
With a continued focus on growth and empowerment, our efforts go well beyond access to finance. We place equal emphasis on non-financial support to our entrepreneurs across our Group in every community we serve.
Leveraging our global network on expert partners, we focus on capacity-building, financial literacy, and business development; and connect entrepreneurs to local, regional, and global opportunities. Here are a few examples of how “Together we Build” our entrepreneurs:
- This year, the Republic Group joined the membership of the SME Finance Forum, becoming part of a global network of finance experts dedicated to empowering SMEs through innovative financial solutions and insights.
- The Group once again partnered as Platinum Sponsor with the Caribbean Export Development Agency for the 2025 Caribbean Investment Forum themed “Smart. Green. Connected”. The event featured the Republic Bank Investment Sprint and Business Pitch for aspiring Caribbean Entrepreneurs focused on key growth sectors in Sustainable Agriculture, Digital Transformation, Green and Blue Economies, and Logistics and Connectivity.
- We have a dedicated Memorandum of Understanding with Caribbean Export for our SME clients to avail of free Export Development training.
- We continued in partnership with the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB)- this year, to empower 25 SMEs to think global with sustainability at the forefront. The initiative was supported by Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, Global TT and Caribbean Export.
- Our Group launched THRIVE in partnership with the Caribbean Export Development Agency and their network of experts, for 500 Republic Bank SME clients across 14 of our territories to benefit from business-development training.
- We also did work over the years with Business and People Development (BPD) Associates on the Entrepreneurs Business Builder Programme – empowering 111 Women SMEs across the Caribbean to understand Business Management, Entrepreneurship and Self with exclusive hassle-free financing offers to drive women in business forward.
Numerous Republic Bank territory-specific collaborations were also undertaken, including hosting SME conferences, youth entrepreneurship programmes and agri-business initiatives.
More Than Mere Words – “Together We Build” matters to us at Republic Bank
Overall, these present a snapshot of the vital linkages we aim to create. More than mere words, the 2025 GEW theme reflects our resolve to contribute to an entire ecosystem where entrepreneurs and all who support them unite with one purpose. With our efforts combined, we can drive resilient, sustainable and inclusive growth.
This week, we celebrate entrepreneurs everywhere, and reaffirm our pledge to build stronger, more inclusive entrepreneurial communities—together.
#GEW2025 #TogetherWeBuild #RepublicBank #Entrepreneurship #CaribbeanInnovation
