Why St. Lucia Needs to Join Global Policy Conversations on Entrepreneurship

At the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), hosted in Indianapolis, a powerful and timely conversation unfolded — one that St. Lucia cannot afford to overlook.

In a LinkedIn post by Kim Lane, Executive Director of America the Entrepreneurial & COO of Right to Start, it was revealed that GEC 2025 featured the inaugural State and Local Policymaker Summit, co-hosted by Right to Start and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). This exclusive summit brought together an impressive group of leaders including:

• Indiana Governor Mike Braun
• Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
• Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Adams
• Dozens of state and local policymakers from across the United States

Over the course of a three-hour roundtable, these leaders engaged in moderated discussions facilitated by Right to Start and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), focusing on how policy can remove barriers and fuel the growth of entrepreneurs at every level. Click here to read the State and Local Policy Summit Recap.

Key Takeaways

• Entrepreneurs are the engine of job creation and economic growth: Data consistently shows that young businesses are the primary source of net new jobs, making support for startups and scaling small businesses crucial for state and local economies.
• Reducing red tape and regulatory barriers is critical: Entrepreneurs, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds or in informal sectors, face significant challenges and costs due to complex regulations, fees, and licensing requirements; streamlining processes and actively removing barriers is a key role for government.
• Collaboration and tailored support are essential: Effective entrepreneurship support requires bridging divides (urban/rural, tech/non-tech, government/community), building trust with entrepreneurs, leveraging trusted local partners (like chambers, Farm Bureaus), and tailoring programs to regional needs and economic conditions rather than applying one-size-fits-all approaches.
• Government has a catalytic, not controlling, role: The most effective government support involves creating the right environment, setting up systems for success, providing access to resources and capital (especially non-dilutive or early-stage funding), and championing entrepreneurship, rather than trying to run businesses or over-regulating.
• Investing in entrepreneurship education and talent development is vital: Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset starting in K-12 education, supporting trade skills, and addressing broader issues like affordable child care and higher education access can significantly impact future entrepreneurial activity and the availability of a skilled workforce.

Click here to read what another attendee, Jason Grill, a Government Affairs & Public Policy Executive, had to say about this Summit.

For St. Lucia, this kind of forum represents exactly the level of conversation that our own policymakers — especially from the Ministry of Commerce and the Youth Economy Agency — need to be a part of.

Why It Matters for St. Lucia

As I shared in my recently published article, Why St. Lucia's Policymakers Must Be Present at Global Entrepreneurship Conversations - Startup Nations Ministerial, missing events like GEC is more than just a lost networking opportunity. It’s a lost seat at the table where strategic decisions are being shaped, where partnerships are forged, and where the future of entrepreneurial support is being written.

While St. Lucia was represented by a small but dedicated two-person delegation at GEC 2025, no government officials or policy architects were present. This is a gap we must fill in 2026 and beyond.

Imagine the impact if our Ministers of Commerce, Youth Economy, Finance, and Education had been present:

• Learning directly from global case studies
• Participating in high-level policy roundtables
• Advocating for regional challenges and solutions
• Positioning St. Lucia as a progressive, pro-startup jurisdiction

A Call to Action for Policymakers

The conversation Kim Lane highlighted shows that nations and states that prioritize entrepreneurship at the policy level are the ones shaping the economic future.

The St. Lucian Government must begin to see Entrepreneurship as national development strategy — not a side program.

Attending GEC and similar gatherings allows our leaders to:

• Learn how others are reducing bureaucratic red tape
• Develop youth-focused entrepreneurship frameworks
• Create budget allocations for startup growth
• Build partnerships with international agencies

These are the kinds of bold, necessary actions we need.

Watch the full Startup Nations Ministerial session below.

I invite our government policymakers to apply to join Startup Nations at https://www.genglobal.org/policy/sn/about. 

Looking Ahead

GEC 2025 may be over, but the movement continues. The next summit will happen sooner than we think — and St. Lucia has the opportunity to show up stronger, more unified, and more prepared.

Let’s ensure that in 2026, our entrepreneurs and policymakers stand side by side, creating the policies and platforms that will make it easier to run a business in St. Lucia by St. Lucians.

The world is already having the conversation. The only question left is: Will we be in the room next time?

All photos: Kim Lane, via LinkedIn