Caribbean Minister Returns from Colombia Innovation Tour

When Lavern King stepped off the plane from Colombia, she carried back more than memories of three bustling cities. She brought home a blueprint for building the kind of innovation ecosystem that transformed Medellín from a troubled past into a global startup hub.

King, who serves as St. Vincent's Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and runs her own sea moss business called Grenadines Gold, just completed an intense five-day journey through Colombia. The trip was organized by the Inter-American Development Bank and Compete Caribbean as part of their Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystems Knowledge Exchange Mission.

The schedule was packed. King participated in over 40 engagements across Bogotá, Medellín, and a third Colombian city, diving deep into how these places built thriving startup communities from the ground up.

What struck King most wasn't the glitzy tech offices or the number of new companies launching. It was the intentional coordination she witnessed between government agencies, private businesses, universities, and innovation centers working together with a shared vision.

In Bogotá, she watched entrepreneurs navigate support systems designed specifically to help them succeed. In Medellín, she saw firsthand how a city once known for violence became internationally recognized for innovation through decades of strategic planning and investment in people.

The Ripple Effect

King's insights come at a crucial moment for St. Vincent. The island nation recently launched its own innovation hub and development bank, creating the foundation for a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Her message resonates beyond one small Caribbean nation. King observed that Colombia's success came from aligned policies, long-term collaboration, and consistent investment in human potential, not just infrastructure.

The minister's dual perspective as both government official and business owner gave her unique insight into what works. She experienced the challenges entrepreneurs face while also understanding the policy levers governments can pull to support them.

King shared her experience on Facebook, emphasizing that thriving innovation ecosystems don't happen by accident. They require deliberate coordination, sustained commitment, and clear direction over many years.

Her final reflection captured the urgency she feels: "The future belongs to countries that innovate intentionally." For St. Vincent and other developing nations watching, Colombia proved that transformation is possible when all sectors work together toward a common goal.