‘Africa can do business’

NAMIBIA on Friday became the second country in the region to launch a product meant to boost SME development, which is to be launched and rolled out in al 13 SADC countries by year-end.

The toolkit is a document which also comes in the form of a CD-ROM, is self-educating and contains all the information needed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) when setting up, running and establishing an effective, profitable and competitive business. It will focus on issues of finance, skills, management and marketing, among other challenges facing the SME sector – a vital sector for any developing country.SMEs account for around 80 per cent of the total number of enterprises in such economies.Speaking at the launch – which was well attended by SME operators, corporate bosses and Government representatives – the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI ), Sipho Mseleku, said it had come to his attention that SMEs across the region experienced similar problems, hence after three years of research, an SME toolkit has been developed.Mseleku said this was step towards ensuring integration in SADC.He said since individual countries had small markets, interacting on a regional level of some 250 million people made more sense, as it offered a bigger market and opened avenues for Africans to do business with fellow Africans while developing the countries’ economies.”Let’s create entrepreneurs.Let’s not depend on aid on the continent, but depend on trade.We have to go beyond borders,” said Mseleku, adding that African businesses needed to be competitive in this age of globalisation.The first launch was in South Africa in October and the Namibia launch will be followed by DRC, Swaziland and Lesotho – all during this month.ASCCI aims to introduce the toolkit in all 13 SADC countries towards year-end, with Mauritius being the final place for such a launch.This project was made a reality through collaboration between the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and Standard Bank Namibia, which invested N$500 000.Also at Friday’s event, Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko said although Government was doing its part in SME development, several problems still faced this sector.”Our interventions in this field have so far been generic and overarching.The time has come that selective support programmes are adopted to take the development of the sector forward,” he said.”My understanding is that the SME sector holds a significant potential to be the catalyst force for a change in moving our enterprises away from mere retailers of imported goods, to a new mindset where increased value addition takes place.”The Minister expressed gratitude towards commercial banks like Bank Windhoek and Standard Bank, which are actively involved in supporting SMEs.Standard Bank Namibia Holdings Managing Director Theo Mberirua urged SME operators to think big and aspire for greater heights.They should see themselves turning into major corporate entities in time, he said.The toolkits cost N$250 and are available from NCCI offices.It will focus on issues of finance, skills, management and marketing, among other challenges facing the SME sector – a vital sector for any developing country.SMEs account for around 80 per cent of the total number of enterprises in such economies.Speaking at the launch – which was well attended by SME operators, corporate bosses and Government representatives – the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI ), Sipho Mseleku, said it had come to his attention that SMEs across the region experienced similar problems, hence after three years of research, an SME toolkit has been developed.Mseleku said this was step towards ensuring integration in SADC.He said since individual countries had small markets, interacting on a regional level of some 250 million people made more sense, as it offered a bigger market and opened avenues for Africans to do business with fellow Africans while developing the countries’ economies.”Let’s create entrepreneurs.Let’s not depend on aid on the continent, but depend on trade.We have to go beyond borders,” said Mseleku, adding that African businesses needed to be competitive in this age of globalisation.The first launch was in South Africa in October and the Namibia launch will be followed by DRC, Swaziland and Lesotho – all during this month.ASCCI aims to introduce the toolkit in all 13 SADC countries towards year-end, with Mauritius being the final place for such a launch.This project was made a reality through collaboration between the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and Standard Bank Namibia, which invested N$500 000.Also at Friday’s event, Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko said although Government was doing its part in SME development, several problems still faced this sector.”Our interventions in this field have so far been generic and overarching.The time has come that selective support programmes are adopted to take the development of the sector forward,” he said.”My understanding is that the SME sector holds a significant potential to be the catalyst force for a change in moving our enterprises away from mere retailers of imported goods, to a new mindset where increased value addition takes place.”The Minister expressed gratitude towards commercial banks like Bank Windhoek and Standard Bank, which are actively involved in supporting SMEs.Standard Bank Namibia Holdings Managing Director Theo Mberirua urged SME operators to think big and aspire for greater heights.They should see themselves turning into major corporate entities in time, he said.The toolkits cost N$250 and are available from NCCI offices.