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New Online Business Opportunity Launched

Minister Dr Edmond MansoorAntigua St John's - The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology, in partnership with APUA, launched the “Connect Antigua and Barbuda Biz” on March 15 at the Precision Centre.

Connect Antigua and Barbuda Biz was described as a multi-faceted, revolutionary ICT platform that will move small and micro-businesses forward in an environment without boundaries.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer hailed the move as a project that is critical for the future development of Antigua and Barbuda.


Meanwhile, Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science and Technology, Dr Edmond Mansoor noted that 250 businesses will get a permanent presence on the internet.

“Using cutting-edge digital technology, these 250 businesses will be able to competitively offer their products and services locally, regionally and internationally via a robust and revolutionary ICT platform,” Dr Mansoor said.

A multi-media presence on Facebook and Youtube will ensure that these businesses leverage on the exponential business value of access to social media. In phase one, 150 businesses will be connected. In phase two, 100 businesses will join the platform. It is expected that up to 1,000 businesses will utilize the platform.

Additionally APUA is offering a packaged range of products and services to Connect Antigua and Barbuda Biz participants to ensure the widest possible use of this empowering ICT platform, and assist these businesses in competitively positioning themselves.

Commissioner of the Board at APUA Clarvis Joseph said the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Biz will lift the level of service that APUA offers to the people of Antigua & Barbuda so that not only their business, but their personal life will be enhanced.

“We see the process of communication as a critical element in the development process…we welcome the opportunity to offer the business community small and large, the opportunity to grow themselves exponentially," he said.

APUA Telecommunications Business Unit Manager Curtis Mckay noted that the digital era has changed the way that businesses small and large operate across the world.

“We are a locally managed indigenous company and we welcome the opportunity to partner with other local indigenous businesses,” he said.

ABS TV/Radio will feature Connect Antigua and Barbuda Biz participant businesses during the major newscast on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, ABS TV will feature a mini-documentary on the products and services offered by these businesses.

Connect Antigua and Barbuda Biz participants will also receive extensive coverage on ABS TV during the 2012 Summer Olympics (July 27 to August 12).

ABS TV’s delayed coverage of the activities of Antigua’s 2012 Carnival, as well as ABS Radio’s live coverage will also prominently feature Connect Antigua and Barbuda Biz and its participant businesses.


Additionally, participant businesses will be given the opportunity to undertake introductory level and intermediate level training in using ICT’s to propel their businesses forward and to make them more competitive.

These training sessions will be conducted under the guidance of trained Community Technology Officers (CTO’s) from the award-winning Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative.


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8 Comments In This Article   

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Private Business

#8 JP Farnsworth » 2012-03-22 12:58

Let's examine the word "Private" then "Business" together they mean NONE of your Beez Wax!@ It's Private for a reason
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JP Farnsworth

Let us do our thing!

#7 Sandra Baptist » 2012-03-16 10:50

Not blaming APUA..at all. I just fail to understand the logic.
If you want to encourage small busineses, give concessions to buy PCs and laptops (businesses don't get duty-free on those); make arrangements with C&W for discounts on broadband...

Let the private sector do its thing!

Sandra Baptist
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Sandra Baptist

Don't blame UPUA...mere pawns!

#6 ..from the Pit » 2012-03-16 10:18

@ Sandra, tenman, dadlison:

You seem not realize the scope of deviousness the Man Not So Sure is capable of. All a part of the Master Plan. This is just the 'appearance' of a 'peace meal' gesture. Watch for the subversive manoeuvres in the month to come. Trust me on that.
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..from the Pit

@Sandra Baptist`

#5 dadlison » 2012-03-16 09:40

Couldn't agree with you more. This was the FIRST thing that popped into my head when I read this. Rather than encouraging and growing startups to offer these services, the government plans to offer them themselves. That saddened me. Still private entities will offer better quality than the government, the question is can they out compete them in price.

There is also a paucity of details in this article. What exactly is this platform. Is it a custom web framework? Is it a bunch of developers using Wordpress? What is the platform?
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dadlison

Sandra Baptist

#4 tenman » 2012-03-16 09:32

Sandra Baptist take my word for it, this is all smoke and mirrors. APUA itself cannot offer its customers the ability to pay online yet it will be part of something labelled innovative. APUA needs to lead by example and simplify via automation its methods of dealing with customers. It takes at least 5 minutes, after reaching the counter (why by itself can take an hour), to pay a bill at APUA. This is all because they are basically manual, because of all the manual writings they have to do. Need I say anything about government departments?




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tenman

Founder-Caribbe an Small Business Ecademy

#3 Sandra Baptist » 2012-03-16 09:03

Why does the government always want to get into competition with the private sector?

The Govt will provide internet presence for the 250 businesses? This is taking money away from the web designers, internet marketers, the web hosting companies...

There has to be a better way to provide a suitable environment for small businesses. Government cannot and should not be doing these things. I agree with encouraging APUA and other corporate entities to provide low cost services to small businesses, but you're stepping on the ability of small business owners who should be providing these exact services!

This is EXACTLY the reason why at the sign of any small adversity business owners want to quit on themselves!

This is EXACTLY the reason why everyone expects Government to do EVERYTHING for them.

This should have been thought out better.

Sandra Baptist,
Founder-Caribbean Small Business Ecademy
We're on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/CaribbeanSmallBusinessEcademy
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Sandra Baptist

cell tower report

#2 Consern Citizen » 2012-03-16 08:30

And still no word on the cell tower report, shame.
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Consern Citizen

Man Not So Sure

#1 Out of a JOB » 2012-03-16 06:27

You mean APUA and mansoor...menti oned in the same article..? Then there is really a God in the Heavens. Mansoor is always for foreign companies coming in and out compete with locals... You will see what Im talking about in a few months. Local Telecommunicati on Companies, BE AWARE!
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Out of a JOB

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