Zambia Govt. remains committed to supporting MSMEs

The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development has reiterated government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Nicholas Chikwenya, says the government will continue to provide policy support, capacity building, market facilitation and improved access to opportunities to MSMEs.

ZANIS reports that Mr Chikwenya was speaking during the closing ceremony of a three – day SNV – MSME Capacity building workshop for agribusinesses, in Kafue District, in a speech read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Director for SMEs, Pamela Chitulangoma.

The Acting Permanent Secretary commended SNV and their partners for the continued investment in MSME development under the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Project.

“Such partnerships are critical in building enterprises capable of creating meaningful employment opportunities for young people and contributing to inclusive national development,” added Mr Chikwenya.

He further urged all the 17 participants to continue aiming high, and create effective platforms for youth employment, enterprise development and improved market access.

And speaking at the same event, SNV Country Director, Lucy Fulgence, implored the participants to turn the newly acquired knowledge into meaningful transformation that empowers them to create jobs for the youth, mentor young innovators and open pathways for entrepreneurship.

“Above all, let it inspire you to see yourselves not only as business owners but as builders of opportunities for this generation and the next,” added Ms Fulgence.

And one of the participants, Densa Agri Plus Founder, Samba Livingi, said the training has given her a mindset change especially in knowing which partners she can work with in the agribusiness sector in order to ensure sustained growth of her business.

“The training will help me map our value chain, identify partners as well as know our position in our value chain,” said Ms Livingi.

Meanwhile, Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP) Project Officer, Harry Lubasi, who was part of the team of facilitators explained that ZATP is a government project under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, supported by the World Bank.

Mr Lubasi added that the core objective of the project is to promote access to markets and finance in order to stimulate competitiveness and firm growth in the agribusiness sector.

He pointed out that the project is active in all the 116 districts of the country and is targeted at everyone but with a bias towards women and the youth.