The Small Business Development Finance (SBDF) Trust was able to fund 532 micro and small loans valued at over $104 million last year, which in turn created and sustained over 1,110 jobs and a surplus of $6.8 million to the trust, according to the Chairman’s report.

This was revealed at the Annual General Meeting of the institution at the Le Meridien Pegasus yesterday. Chairman Sattaur Gafoor said that during 2007, SBDF assisted 170 small and medium farmers and fishermen, 291 micro-entrepreneurs and 30 food processing clients. During the same period, the trust also assisted clients to improve, furnish and construct small houses.

Last year more loans were granted to females (358) than to males (134). 70 loans were granted jointly. At yesterday’s AGM, a number of awards were handed out. Noelle Noble received an award for best woman entrepreneur while Narish Gansham copped the best young entrepreneur award. The Best Managed Agricultural Project award was handed to Jewan Gobin while Fazir Mohamed won one for the best innovative entrepreneur. Most Progressive Entrepreneur went to Bharath Bissoon while the Best Managed Project award went to Brenda
Mack.

Present at the ceremony was Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud.