AGP Executive Report

SME Payments Push: SQRIL says it’s now helping banks and neobanks let app users scan-and-pay local QR codes across Asia, Africa and Latin America, aiming to cut cross-border card and ATM costs by settling merchants in local fiat. Digital Banking Upgrade: People First Bank launched a new digital banking platform powered by Backbase’s AI-native Banking OS, targeting simpler onboarding, stronger security and more reliable service for its ~750,000 customers. AI for Small Firms: China’s industry ministry unveiled a plan to grow AI entrepreneurship among SMEs by 2028, targeting 10,000 AI-focused SMEs and “little giant” specialists, plus incubators, demo platforms and low-cost computing support. Craft Market Protection: Jamaica’s craft council chair Delano Seiveright backed a $53.5M rehab of the Old Fort Craft Market and called for stronger protection against imported goods sold as Jamaican. Loan-Sharking Crackdown in Panama: Panama’s police director linked a deadly attack in San Miguelito to organized crime or loan-sharking, citing ongoing operations against predatory lenders. Immigration Pressure on Salvadorans: U.S. TPS for El Salvador is set to end Sept. 9, raising urgency for affected families and the local businesses that rely on their labor.

H-1B Fallout for Latin American Workers: A Peruvian athlete-turned-business grad says an H-1B layoff forced her return home, underscoring how visa shifts can abruptly derail careers and small-business talent pipelines. Organized Crime & Predatory Lending in Panama: Police link a deadly shooting in San Miguelito to loan-sharking networks tied to money laundering, a reminder that “informal” credit can become a business risk. Caribbean Craft Sector Push: Jamaica’s deputy PM calls for a bigger craft center on the north coast to scale artisan sales and tourism—plus stronger protection against imports sold as Jamaican. SME AI Drive in China (spillover relevance): China’s plan targets 10,000 AI-focused SMEs by 2028, with incubators, clusters, and low-cost computing—useful context for LATAM founders watching AI funding models. TPS Deadline Hits Salvadorans: El Salvador’s TPS end date nears, raising urgency for immigrant workers and the local businesses that rely on their labor. Cross-border Payments Upgrade: Tazapay goes live on Borderless.xyz, adding Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia rails for faster local-currency payouts and collections.

AI SME Push: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology rolled out a plan to supercharge AI entrepreneurship, targeting 10,000+ AI-focused SMEs by 2028, plus incubators, public demo platforms, and “little giant” support for specialized firms. Digital Gap in the Region: A new look at Caribbean SMBs shows most are still running core operations by hand—only a small share use payroll or digitized inventory—while social media adoption is high, highlighting a practical automation priority for merchants. Craft Market Boost (Jamaica): Jamaica’s government is backing a $53.5M upgrade of the Old Fort Craft Market in Montego Bay, aiming to help hundreds of vendors and small businesses compete better with imported “Jamaican” knockoffs. Immigration Shock for Salvadoran Workers (U.S.): With El Salvador’s Temporary Protected Status set to end Sept. 9, community leaders and business owners warn of major labor and tax impacts as workers face renewed deportation risk. Payments Expansion (LATAM): Tazapay launched on Borderless.xyz, adding Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia coverage so businesses can route payouts/collections via local rails instead of separate provider setups. Trade Policy Uncertainty: A week of coverage underscores how shifting U.S. tariff rules are turning trade into a moving target for importers and small operators planning costs and sourcing.

Immigration Shock for Salvadoran SMBs: With El Salvador’s Temporary Protected Status set to end Sept. 9, more than 170,000 people face renewed ICE arrest and deportation risk—raising labor and tax uncertainty for U.S. businesses that rely on their workers. Digital Payments & Cash-Heavy Reality: A look at the region’s slow shift to digital shows many small firms still automate the “front” (social media) while back-office work like payroll and inventory stays manual, keeping cash dominant and limiting growth. Craft Sector Push in Jamaica: Deputy PM Horace Chang backs a bigger craft center on the north coast to scale artisan sales for tourism, while Delano Seiveright calls for stronger protection against imports sold as “Jamaican.” Trade Policy Whiplash: Tariff rules keep changing fast, forcing import-dependent small businesses to plan around shifting costs rather than one predictable trade war. Cross-Border Money Rails: Tazapay goes live on Borderless.xyz, adding Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia coverage so businesses can route payouts/collections via local transfers instead of separate provider setups. Tech for Customer Retention: SuccessKPI rolls out AI quality-management tools aimed at contact centers—automating review volume while keeping human judgment in the loop.

Immigration Shock for Local Workforces: El Salvador’s Temporary Protected Status is set to end Sept. 9, putting about 170,000 people at risk of ICE arrest and deportation—an upheaval community leaders say will hit both families and U.S. employers that rely on their labor. Craft Sector Push in Jamaica: Deputy PM Horace Chang backs a bigger north-coast craft center to scale artisan sales for tourism, alongside a $53.5M rehabilitation of Montego Bay’s Old Fort Craft Market for about 156 vendors. Digital Payments & Automation Gap: A look at the Caribbean shows most SMEs still automate the “front” but run payroll, inventory, and ledgers by hand—highlighting why POS and back-office tools remain scarce. Trade Policy Pressure on Small Retailers: Tariffs are driving up everyday costs for small shops, with some owners forced to absorb higher prices rather than pass them on. Caribbean Craft Protection: Jamaica’s craft council chair Delano Seiveright calls for stronger action against imports that mimic Jamaican designs sold as “local.” Cross-Border Payments Upgrade: Tazapay goes live on Borderless.xyz, adding Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia rails so businesses can settle via local transfers instead of separate providers per country.

SME Digital Gap: Barbados says only 4–5% of business transactions are digital (vs. 18–19% in the U.S.), with just 13% using payroll software and 14% digitizing inventory—leaving many micro and small firms running stock and back-office work by hand. Policy & Costs for Small Firms: A U.S. senator tour highlights how tariff-driven price jumps hit small retailers and food shops, forcing tough choices between absorbing costs or raising prices. Trade Rules Volatility: A new look at 2026 trade policy describes a “patchwork” of shifting tariffs and legal reversals that businesses must plan around as a lasting reality, not a one-off shock. Fintech for LATAM Cross-Border Payments: Tazapay goes live on Borderless.xyz, adding Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia so businesses can route payouts/collections via local rails instead of separate providers per country. Local Market Protection: Jamaica’s craft council chief calls for stronger action against imported “Jamaican” knockoffs, alongside a $53.5M rehab of the Old Fort Craft Market to support 156 vendors. Business Training: INOVA Federal and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce launch “Empresarios,” a free eight-week program for entrepreneurs seeking practical setup and compliance guidance.

Craft Market Protection: Jamaica’s Delano Seiveright is pushing tougher safeguards for local craft producers, warning that imports are being sold to tourists as “Jamaican,” alongside a $53.5M rehab of Montego Bay’s Old Fort Craft Market to support 156 vendors. Messaging-as-a-Business: A look at how WhatsApp’s “free” model became a global customer tool for Meta, turning everyday messaging into large-scale commerce and cross-border connections. Creator Economy Push: Uganda’s short-form video platform Wano hit 50,000 installs, aiming to help African and diaspora creators get discovered without forcing content to fit global algorithms. Tariffs Hit Everyday Inputs: Wisconsin small businesses say tariffs are raising costs on common items like tomatoes and lettuce, squeezing margins and forcing hard pricing decisions. Peru Social Unrest & SMB Risk: Commentary on Peru’s crisis and the 1977 general strike highlights how instability, violence, and weak protection can spill into small business survival. Payments Expansion in LATAM: Tazapay went live on Borderless.xyz, adding Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia rails so businesses can route payouts/collections via local transfers instead of separate providers.

Tariff Pressure on Small Retail: Sen. Tammy Baldwin toured Wisconsin shops to hear how tariffs are raising everyday costs, with imported staples like tomatoes and lettuce jumping sharply and forcing owners to decide whether to absorb prices or lose customers. Casino Tech IP Growth: QCI says it has topped 100 patent assets for casino analytics, loyalty and QR-enabled gaming tools—another signal of how tech vendors are scaling in the region’s gaming economy. Year-Round Outdoor Dining: NYC made roadway outdoor dining permanent year-round, cutting seasonal teardown costs for restaurants and improving planning for small operators. LATAM Payments Expansion: Tazapay launched on Borderless.xyz, adding Brazil, Mexico and Colombia rails so businesses can move payouts/collections via local transfers instead of separate provider setups. AI for Contact Centers: SuccessKPI rolled out AI features aimed at automating quality review work while keeping human judgment in place. Entrepreneur Training (LATAM-linked): INOVA Federal Credit Union launched a free “Empresarios” program for local entrepreneurs, offering practical business setup guidance and mentorship. Cuba Business Reality Check: A look at Cuba’s shift from tourism boom to today’s shortages and power outages, with private businesses still constrained by ration dependence. Haiti Travel Warning: A renewed “Level 4” advisory highlights gang-controlled instability that threatens safety and disrupts normal commerce.

SME Training Boost: INOVA Federal Credit Union is launching “Empresarios,” a free eight-week program with the Latin American Chamber of Commerce and NIMBA to help local entrepreneurs get their paperwork, LLC setup, and finances in order, with personalized guidance from experts. Payments Access for SMBs: Canva is partnering with EBANX and Capitec Pay to enable recurring cardless subscriptions in South Africa, a move that could widen demand for subscription-based small businesses beyond low credit-card usage. Regional Business Funding Insight: A new look at Latin America and the Caribbean venture capital argues many “pre-seed” rounds arrive after discovery work is done, creating a proof-before-discovery trap that leaves early founders under-supported. Tourism & Local Economy: Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. rolled out “Barbados Remembers Your Name,” a campaign built on repeat-visitor relationships—good news for travel-linked SMBs that rely on loyal customers. Caribbean Travel Services: Caribbean Airlines expanded ground options with a luxury airport taxi service via a third-party provider, adding convenience for travelers and potential spillover for local operators.

Payments & Fintech: Canva is partnering with EBANX and Capitec Pay to let South Africans subscribe without credit cards—approving recurring payments once in the Capitec app, potentially opening subscriptions to millions previously blocked by low card penetration. Caribbean Travel & SMB Demand: Caribbean Airlines added a luxury airport taxi service via third-party provider Dignitary Travel Worldwide, offering private ground transport options (including groups) plus pickup support—another revenue channel for local transport operators. Business Growth in the Region: Flyte received approvals to expand private charter operations from Florida into The Bahamas and Caribbean, aiming to boost utilization and customer growth through direct-to-consumer marketing and partnerships. LATAM Startup Funding Reality Check: A new take on venture capital in Latin America argues many “pre-seed” rounds arrive after discovery work is already done, creating a proof-before-discovery trap that slows early experimentation. Local Community & Entrepreneurship: Southwest Florida Enterprise Center hosted a business expo for new entrepreneurs, pairing local mentorship and office support with networking to help small firms grow.

Venture Capital Reality Check: A new report highlights a “proof-before-discovery” trap in early-stage funding across Latin America and the Caribbean, where programs say they back unproven founders but selection criteria reward traction already achieved. Public-Private Tech for SMBs: North Carolina’s NCDOT is rolling out dashcam-informed traffic analytics via ClearGuide® and Vizzion’s Drives, a reminder that smarter mobility data can reduce delays and boost local commerce. Community Commerce Boost: Fort Myers’ Southwest Florida Enterprise Center hosted a business expo for 40+ small owners to showcase services, network, and tap mentorship—exactly the kind of local pipeline SMBs need. Latin Culture as Local Business Engine: Dover’s Baila Con Dover festival and Worcester’s first Dominican Festival (Sept. 5) spotlight how heritage events draw vendors, food trucks, and performers—turning culture into foot traffic for small operators. Health Access in Colombia: Knight Therapeutics won INVIMA approval for TAVALISSE® for chronic ITP, signaling more treatment options for patients and potential growth for regional healthcare providers. Fraud Warning for Fintechs: Brazil’s Breeze Comet threat actor is linked to fraudulent transfers via payment-system manipulation, underscoring the security pressure on SMBs using digital payments.

Pharma Access in Colombia: Knight Therapeutics won INVIMA approval for TAVALISSE® (fostamatinib) for adult chronic immune thrombocytopenia, expanding its Latin America rollout via its Rigel deal. Cybercrime Alert for Brazil: Breeze Comet targeted Brazil’s financial and e-commerce firms by manipulating payment systems, using password spraying and social engineering to push remote tools like AnyDesk. SMB Tech Upgrades in Mexico/LatAm: Canon’s PTZ camera firmware updates add onboard recording and face-tracking features for business video production. Distributed Energy Financing in Mexico/LatAm: Odyssey Energy Solutions raised a $74M round to expand its platform that helps installers finance solar and move into battery financing for electric two- and three-wheelers. Payments Modernization Watch: New research forecasts cross-border payments infrastructure growth to $320T by 2032, driven by real-time rails and faster settlement. Local Business Community Boost: A coalition of Miami-Dade small businesses and non-profits delivered free back-to-school support for 100+ students.

Colombian Fashion Export Story: Juan Pablo Marín turned a family swimwear idea into Ola Azul, aiming beyond Colombia with a brand built on local creativity and global demand. Caribbean Small Business Boost: Republic Bank hosted “A Taste of Cricket,” giving Caribbean vendors a sales push tied to the CPL—an easy win for local food businesses. Caribbean Finance & SME Access: Asprofin Bank (Dominica) is expanding Banking-as-a-Service and embedded finance via an API-enabled push, targeting fintech and cross-border transaction growth. Payments Infrastructure Watch: New research flags cross-border payments growth to $320T by 2032, driven by real-time rails, interoperable APIs, and smarter automation—relevant for LATAM merchants and fintechs. Diaspora Housing Investing: Blue Mahoe Capital is pitching a regulated model to channel diaspora money into Caribbean housing, turning remittances into ownership-style investment. Local Governance & Food Security: St. Kitts and Nevis marked National Tree Planting Day with breadfruit planting and a direct stop at local stalls to support small businesses. Tech Adoption Angle: A profile of Ocho Rios entrepreneurship highlights an all-in-one business platform built for local operators.

Cold-Storage Deal: Americold closed its $1.3B North American cold storage joint venture with EQT, taking about $1.1B net cash to cut debt and fund long-term growth—big news for regional logistics SMEs that rely on reliable warehousing. Embedded Finance Push: Asprofin Bank (Dominica) is expanding Banking-as-a-Service and embedded finance via an API-enabled partnership aimed at supporting up to $5B in annualized transaction volume, signaling more fintech-friendly rails across the Caribbean. Cross-Border Payments Boom: New market forecasts peg cross-border payments infrastructure growth to $320T by 2032, reinforcing why Latin American SMBs are hunting faster, interoperable payment options. SMB Tech for Growth: Ocho Rios entrepreneur Kingsley Jair Harrison’s SnapTap platform is gaining traction across 10 countries, bundling marketing, sales, payments, and customer management into one AI-powered hub for small operators. Local Business Reality Check: A Westville, South Africa restaurant, Manjares, faces a lease non-renewal tied to nearly $30k in unpaid rent, a reminder that cash-flow pressure can hit even established neighborhood brands.

Mobile for SMBs: Optimum expanded its multiyear MVNO deal with T-Mobile, aiming to boost rural coverage, roaming, and add connected-wearables support—plus a path to tailor mobile packages for business customers. Renewables + compliance tech: Volaris Group agreed to acquire Biodiv-Wind, a France-based bird and bat detection system provider used to meet wind-farm regulatory requirements. SMB logistics automation: K&R International Services is using Descartes to automate EU ICS2 import security filings for high-volume ecommerce shipments, cutting the burden of one-by-one submissions. Embedded finance in the Caribbean: Asprofin Bank is expanding API-driven Banking-as-a-Service and embedded finance, targeting fintech and cross-border transaction growth. Caribbean business platform: A Jamaican entrepreneur’s SnapTap platform is helping small businesses run marketing, sales, payments, and customer management from one dashboard across multiple countries. Local policy that hits payroll: Costa Rica’s Aug. 31 holiday now falls on a Monday for the first time, changing how non-obligatory pay is handled for household and small-business employees. Tourism investment tie-in: Thor Urbana is bringing UMusic Hotel & Beach Club Tulum into the Tulum Renace initiative, blending hospitality with a creative hub.

Caribbean Micro-Entrepreneur Support: In St. Kitts and Nevis, PM Dr. Terrance Drew marked National Tree Planting Day by planting a breadfruit tree and then visiting a local stall to back small businesses, tying the effort to food security and reduced imports. Diaspora-to-Real-Estate Investing: Jamaica’s Blue Mahoe Capital is pitching a regulated investment model that turns diaspora housing money into ownership-linked funding for real estate projects. SMB Growth via One Platform: Ocho Rios entrepreneur Kingsley Jair Harrison’s SnapTap is an AI-powered all-in-one business hub (marketing, sales, payments, customer management), now used by 500+ operators across 10 countries. Fintech Readiness for Oil Boom: Suriname’s fintech push is framed as a 2026 priority to modernize payments and services ahead of an expected offshore oil surge. LATAM Business Tech for Compliance: PWP.BET rolled out a unified operator console combining casino/sportsbook management with built-in KYC/AML and responsible-gaming controls. Local Hiring Reality Check: Costa Rica’s Aug. 31 holiday falls on a workday for the first time, changing how small employers calculate pay depending on worker schedules. Tourism Business Pressure: Jamaica’s tourism minister Edmund Bartlett is set to co-chair a World Economic Forum session focused on resilience—workforce, tech disruption, infrastructure, and climate risk. Data Modernization for SMEs: Striim and Infomedia partnered to help LATAM enterprises modernize Oracle-heavy systems continuously, aiming to reduce downtime risk. Small-Business Cashflow Watch: Belize is debating a more business-friendly tax setup, with attention on GST registration thresholds and how business tax is calculated. Workforce and Operations: Honduras’ Dinant expanded community support across 100+ underserved communities, including school funding and local infrastructure improvements.