Chamber to Launch Local Business Recognition and Appreciation Program

Philipsburg: The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) will be launching its Business Recognition and Appreciation program during the month of March 2023. COCI's objective with this program is to stimulate, encourage and nurture local entrepreneurship through the recognition of our local business pioneers here on the island.

The goal of the program is for COCI's management and board to identify periodically local business stalwarts from various sectors who have been the first of their kind in the registry of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry. COCI will be highlighting the pioneers through the exposure of vital information that will encourage entrepreneurship and give local entrepreneurs the confidence to continue their business dream(s) and venture, and not throw in the towel.

According to the President of the board, Ms. Peggy Ann Brandon, "although the Chamber has been established to fulfill a core mandate of registering businesses, COCI must embrace its corporate responsibility, and give back to the business community by stimulating entrepreneurship and business through different methods, continuously providing vital information to build business capacity but also consistently entice local entrepreneurship. COCI acknowledges the persons who started it all, through official registrations of businesses at COCI. There are many more known entrepreneurs who have shaped the business community of Sint Maarten, not through registered businesses but heavily contributed. These local entrepreneurs too are recognized for their contributions."