A chance for NMI entrepreneurs to ‘step up’

The U.S Small Business Administration awarded the CNMI Department of Commerce grant funds amounting to $142,000 last September to be used in the State Trade Expansion Program or STEP UP program in the CNMI to support export growth among new and current businesses.

According to Commerce Secretary Mark O. Rabauliman, the program encourages new and current businesses to find and nurture a business niche that they can export to different parts of the world.

“Being that it is the first year that the CNMI has received this grant in quite a long time, it’s an opportunity to disseminate information and hopefully somebody out there will find a niche that will enable them to be productive in and out of the CNMI,” he said.

Rabauliman said they are not necessarily looking for investors but migrating CNMI talents and products to the rest of the world.

“The STEP UP program will not fund the business but the export part, like participation in foreign trade shows and foreign market sales trips. For example, there is a trade show that the business wants to participate in. Our target market is to supplement the overhead cost of the business’ participation in that trade show.”

“The goal is to put a light on the different and unique qualities of the CNMI that you can’t find anywhere else in the world,” he added.

This program is open to start-ups and existing businesses.

“This is open to different types of businesses, everything under the sun. If a new and current business can explore another market that they can export to, we are here to support,” said Rabauliman. “The business can be something as simple as crafts and the businesses that are welcome to the program are not limited to products and goods as we also accept service type of industries. For example, we have a lot of engineers and architects on island that might be able to join in the STEP UP program. They can export this service as they have an island perspective in terms of how they design things.”

Rabauliman was quick to say that the Department of Commerce will still prioritize sustaining the islands first.

“It does not make sense if we create such a great export industry and then we can’t find our own products here on island,” he said. “Our concern would always be try to sustain the islands first before we start expanding out. We will safeguard in sustaining the islands prior to sending products and services off to other places.”

For more details of the STEP UP program, contact (670) 664-3000 or send inquiries to info@commerce.gov.mp.