For two weeks in August 2025, from the 5th to the 18th, the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Audrey Thompson-Tynes, traveled to China as part of a 23-member Bahamian delegation attending the Seminar on SME Management for The Bahamas.
Along with Bahamian Senators and representatives from various other leading Bahamian businesses, the group also included the Presidents of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, the Abaco Chamber of Commerce, and the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce – with the goal of strengthening the country’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.
The program, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and organized by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), featured a dynamic mix of lectures, enterprise visits, and cultural exchanges. A central theme was the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which highlighted opportunities for The Bahamas in port development, logistics, digital connectivity, and trade expansion.
Activities opened in Beijing with a welcoming ceremony and participant exchange, followed the next day by high-level lectures on China’s national development strategy, governance philosophy, and the BRI framework. Additional sessions examined SME digital transformation, cross-border e-commerce trends, and the legal and regulatory systems supporting business growth. Delegates also engaged in market research tours and cultural site visits in Beijing and were also invited to the Bahamas Embassy in China, where they met with The Bahamas Ambassador for China, Ms. Paulette Bethel.
The delegation then traveled to Wenzhou City, recognized as the cradle of China’s private economy, where they spent five days. There, participants explored e-commerce industrial parks, live-streaming commerce bases, and garment manufacturing facilities, gaining firsthand exposure to China’s innovation-driven SME ecosystems. The visit also included a welfare inspection of Shanglinyang Village and a cultural tour of the Ponan Historic District.
Reflecting on the experience, Mrs. Thompson-Tynes shared: “This seminar was an eye-opening opportunity to see how SMEs can thrive through innovation, digital transformation, and international collaboration. The lessons learned in China will help us strengthen Eleuthera’s business community and position Eleuthera-based enterprises to take advantage of global opportunities. The Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce looks forward to building on these insights to support local business growth and expand international partnerships for Eleutheran and Bahamian SMEs.”
In an interview following her two-week experience in China, Mrs. Thompson-Tynes went into further detail on some of the insights garnered during her visit, and how they might translate into opportunities for businesses in Eleuthera.
Commenting on her overall experience in China, Audrey revealed, “The experience was a great one…, to see the differences in cultures, their work ethic, and the way they go about things – compared to us here in the Bahamas.” Their customer service and business approach were impressive, she added.
A key personal takeaway from the visit, said Audrey, was how limitless the opportunities were. She opined that here at home people tend to focus on generally the same things, “So everybody’s competing in the same market. But, it was so eye-opening to see the different things that you can do. I personally wish and hope that more Bahamians will start to think outside of the box. Not all towards the tourist market, or towards the teaching model… There are so many different things you can do. Entrepreneurship is definitely a good way to go.”
Commenting on cross-border e-commerce, one of the topics explored during the SME seminar, Mrs. Thompson-Tynes, said, “There are real opportunities there. Eleuthera relies heavily on local demand and seasonal tourism, and cross-border e-commerce offers a pathway to expand beyond those limitations… and it’s so easy to make it work… In Wenzhou City, a port city we visited, manufacturers can produce items with your brand and ship them out. The shipping route could go from China to Panama to the Bahamas… So the opportunities are real, they’re there, it’s just up to Eleutherans to take advantage of them.”
When asked about what businesses might need to know about legal and regulatory systems to begin trade, Mrs. Thompson-Tynes, explained, “The main barrier is communication technology. You cannot communicate via WhatsApp or regular calls. They have nationwide integrated systems – WeChat and Alipay – that are essential for all transactions. Without these apps, you can’t pay for anything, order transportation, or make purchases. There’s also a language barrier, though the apps have translators. Depending on the industry, there may also be specific requirements – for example, cosmetics or health products need registration with the National Medical Products Administration.
Mrs. Audrey Thompson-Tynes’ visit to China now gives business owners in Eleuthera the advantage of having a facilitator within The Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce, armed with a wealth of information, about how SME’s here can strengthen, grow, and expand, “I’ve brought back contacts and strategies. I can advise businesses on practical matters like using WeChat with a VPN, best times to visit China, and avoiding January-February when businesses close for holidays. It’s about going beyond local limits and connecting Eleuthera businesses with opportunities. I can help identify problems as potential business opportunities.”
The Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce, said Mrs. Thompson-Tynes, has plans to connect members with these global opportunities and partnerships, “We are planning industry-specific meetings that would include representatives from China – manufacturers, suppliers, or shippers. For example, if people are interested in pharmaceuticals or cosmetology, we’ll organize a meeting with relevant Chinese contacts via Zoom. This way, businesses can make personal connections. We’ll organize similar meetings for different industries based on interest.”
Another area that Eleuthera businesses may have limited experience in to-date that Mrs. Thompson-Tynes highlighted as worthy of exploring was global payment methods. With personal experience in accepting digital and cryptocurrency, she attested to its both its convenience and accessibility, especially for international transactions. She explained how digital currency has transformed her own business operations, and emphasized the need for businesses in the Bahamas to adapt to global payment methods. Mrs. Thompson-Tynes welcomes businesses reaching out to talk with her. For further information contact her via email at [email protected].
