By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE creation of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) will help drive the country’s industrialisation agenda.
The Ministry should focus on grooming the SMEs to enable them develop the country’s industrial base and grow into larger businesses.
This is according to the Forum for Small and Medium Enterprises and Manufacturers (SMEM) Principal Consultant, Godfrey Chingala.
Mr Chingala said it was important for the new Ministry to work with SMEs and manufacturers for the sector to realise its maximum potential of job creation and poverty alleviation.
“The SME sector should not be used for political gains but should be considered an employing sector that contributes to wealth creation and youth employment,” he said in an interview recently.
Mr Chingala however, called on the Head of State to ensure that key performance indicators were given to the Minister responsible for SMEs and monitored every quarter.
“The Government should also establish a committee which involves players and not only academicians to create resources allocation balance as this is so because within the SME sector businesses are not at the same level,” he said.
Mr Chingala said this would improve the narrative of thinking that SMEs are briefcase businesses but should be viewed as catalyst for economic development.
