Small Business Information Centre closes

EMERGING businesspeople and small to medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) operators who have become accustomed to finding useful information and assistance from the Small Business Information Centre (SBIC) based at the Soweto Market in Katutura, will have to find alternative means as the centre has been shut down.

The centre, which since its establishment in 2001 had become a source of business information and a communication centre for SMEs, was shut down at the end of last year and indications are not clear as to when it will reopen. The SBIC was created out of a partnership by the Joint Consultative Council, City of Windhoek, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as a one-stop information centre for SMEs.One of the objectives was to inform the public on matters concerning SME development and to enhance the economic environment for SME growth.Other developmental duties were to assist unemployed and poor people generate their own income by starting and running small businesses, and helping SMEs to secure financing.Some SME owners lamented the current situation saying the SBIC had contributed immensely to their existence and subsequent business success.Sources revealed that this could be part of bigger plan to restructure the JCC and its operations.The centre was administered by the JCC, which provided two full-time staff members whose contracts were not renewed after expiring on December 31 2006.JCC National Coordinator Tuwilika Hamwele confirmed to The Namibian this week that her organisation had pulled out of running the SBIC and discussions about the centre’s future were being held with all concerned stakeholders.She said a memorandum of understanding signed by the four partners in 2001 stated that the JCC would initially run the SBIC, but a review of the administration would be conducted to determine whether the centre could be self-sustaining.This, she said, was done last year, and it was decided that JCC would no longer administer the operations of the SBIC.Another issue was that donor funding from Hivos came to an end last year, and part of this funding was used to pay the monthly salaries of the SBIC staff.She could not say when or whether the centre would be reopened but added that the SBIC was very important for SME development.The Economic Development Manager at the City of Windhoek, Colin Ramothibe, who is also a director on the JCC board, reiterated Hamwele’s words, adding that the situation could be resolved by the end of this month.”The SBIC was established in 2001 and now we have to re-look at the business plan of the centre and how it can be run,” he said.He also indicated that this was part of a strategy to reposition the entire JCC as an umbrella body for SMEs.Both Hamwele and Ramothibe admitted that it would have been better to solve the administration issues while the SBIC remained open for business.It remains to be seen whether the SBIC will reopen for business or stay shut for good.The SBIC was created out of a partnership by the Joint Consultative Council, City of Windhoek, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as a one-stop information centre for SMEs.One of the objectives was to inform the public on matters concerning SME development and to enhance the economic environment for SME growth.Other developmental duties were to assist unemployed and poor people generate their own income by starting and running small businesses, and helping SMEs to secure financing.Some SME owners lamented the current situation saying the SBIC had contributed immensely to their existence and subsequent business success.Sources revealed that this could be part of bigger plan to restructure the JCC and its operations.The centre was administered by the JCC, which provided two full-time staff members whose contracts were not renewed after expiring on December 31 2006.JCC National Coordinator Tuwilika Hamwele confirmed to The Namibian this week that her organisation had pulled out of running the SBIC and discussions about the centre’s future were being held with all concerned stakeholders.She said a memorandum of understanding signed by the four partners in 2001 stated that the JCC would initially run the SBIC, but a review of the administration would be conducted to determine whether the centre could be self-sustaining.This, she said, was done last year, and it was decided that JCC would no longer administer the operations of the SBIC.Another issue was that donor funding from Hivos came to an end last year, and part of this funding was used to pay the monthly salaries of the SBIC staff.She could not say when or whether the centre would be reopened but added that the SBIC was very important for SME development.The Economic Development Manager at the City of Windhoek, Colin Ramothibe, who is also a director on the JCC board, reiterated Hamwele’s words, adding that the situation could be resolved by the end of this month.”The SBIC was established in 2001 and now we have to re-look at the business plan of the centre and how it can be run,” he said.He also indicated that this was part of a strategy to reposition the entire JCC as an umbrella body for SMEs. Both Hamwele and Ramothibe admitted that it would have been better to solve the administration issues while the SBIC remained open for business.It remains to be seen whether the SBIC will reopen for business or stay shut for good.