Diasporic Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean - Firm Profiles.pdf Vol 2 | Page 32

Agro-processing Firms

Contribution to Caribbean: Innovation &
Development:
• Fund Professorial Chairs at UWI.
• GFI has funded a few start-ups directly, and
indirectly supports other entrepreneurial ventures.
• GFI has provided support to small food
manufacturers that have allowed them to cover
their overhead costs.
• While GFI does not have an active investment in
shipping in terms of a division, the company still
maintains shareholding in some of the companies
it supports, because that was needed for those
companies to secure an agreement with a shipping
line, so they have maintained a token investment
to keep those companies going.
• GFI is an active supporter of some of the creative
people (e.g. label, designs, printers, etc.) across the
Caribbean especially in Jamaica and Barbados
that are assisted with funds for investments in
equipment. GFI has utilized the services of some copackers in the Caribbean to assist with packaging
products.
• GKCO began an investment involving multiple
professionals who had to realize the returns
on their investments. There was a system that
allowed people to grow and to also benefit from
shareholdings in GKCO.
•

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GKCO has been contributing to the Jamaican
community since its inception. In the early
years, there were many needy families that were
supported by GKCO. GKCO operates a social service
entity with a full team of social workers who
follow attention to community events and activities
and have no commercial responsibilities within the
organization; these persons focus solely on social
work. GKCO volunteers dedicate their time and
effort to support by reaching out to communities
via support, training centers, opportunities,
education (e.g. scholarships, etc.). Staff members
also contribute of their own resources to GKCO’s
social work activities. GKCO has created a culture
of the company being a part of the community.