French-side Chamber of Commerce (CCISM) President Angèle Dormoy talks at a review of 2022 as CCISM Director-General Julien Bataille (left) looks on.
MARIGOT--“In 2022, we have accompanied and supported some 8,000 companies, active or new, in all sectors. We have trained more than 100 new creators or buyers, we have led eleven managers to certification by leading international business school in Paris Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC), have supported 219 entrepreneurs through the Cellule d’Accompagnement pour la Régularisation des Entreprises (CARE) initiative, and welcomed dozens of project leaders in professionalising courses that we created from scratch.”
Those were some of the numbers disclosed by Chamber of Commerce CCISM President Angèle Dormoy at a review of the Chamber’s 2022 activities last Wednesday.
For the traditional New Year wishes, Dormoy was joined by CCISM Director-General Julien Bataille and her immediate managers and staff. Elected officials and the business community at large attended the review.
Dormoy vowed that 2023 will see more dynamism and an acceleration of economic activity with CCISM present “on all fronts,” adding that St. Martin is becoming increasingly attractive in the entrepreneurship world.
Being as close as possible to companies while accompanying them towards digitalisation also remains one of CCISM’s priorities. With the new measure imposing the dematerialisation of all business formalities, Dormoy assured the presence of her services as help and support for any problem that local businesses may encounter.
Through its interest in and commitment to numerous organisations CCISM has strengthened its networks, making it more proactive and able to respond as quickly as possible to any problems that may be encountered by local businesses.
Thanks to the strengthening of its teams and its professional structuring, CCISM is approaching the year 2023 full of enthusiasm and has many projects to implement, Dormoy said, in addition to its ongoing and recurring training activities.
These events include the E-Weekend, an event on the digital theme at the end of January; the Salon de l’Agriculture at the end of February; the celebration of women entrepreneurs in March; the Joli Mois de Mai, in May; the third edition of Spotlight in June; a Road to Business seminar and an agricultural fair in November.
Also, the Admin’ Bossy workshops will be renewed. As for new services, CCISM is working on the much-needed establishment of a Fishery Committee, creation of a first business incubator that will be located in Quartier d’Orléans, and the establishment of an Expert Ease forum that will bring together professionals in the legal and accounting fields.
Artists also have a place in CCISM’s priorities. It intends to structure this sector by taking part in the House of Artists from next April. Following a census carried out in 2022, some 95 artists have made themselves known to the CCISM.
Within the framework of its label as a City of Tastes and Flavours, CCISM is building up a collection of documents on endemic species that are integrated into local dishes and cocktails, such as guavaberry, plantain banana, carambola or even soursop.
The Chamber intends to strengthen its training activities in the culinary arts by associating with the expertise of major consular schools. Finally, by next summer, an educational garden showcasing the agricultural sector, highlighting perma-culture and plant endemic species, will be inaugurated. This garden, located in the outdoor gardens of the CCISM premises, will become a venue for future events.
