The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has pledged to ensure that Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the country are supported in an effort to expand their businesses.
Speaking at the high-level meeting on access to markets for agriculture products in Lusaka, Ministry Permanente Secretary Kayula Siame said government will put in place policies aimed at thriving the entrepreneurship sector.
Mrs. Siame said her ministry will coordinate with other government agencies and the private sector to see to it that issues affecting SMEs in the country are addressed.
She said she is glad that the business linkage system under the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is bearing positive fruits.
Mrs. Kayula said in order for the program to grow from where it has been, there is need for more to be done by both the government and Small Scale Entrepreneurs.
She adds that for Zambian products to penetrate the international market there is need for small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the country to satisfy the domestic market.
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry PS said her ministry is working to create cooperative food, vegetables and agro-processing sector to ensure that SMEs have better business model.
“I wish also to urge SMEs in the country to refrain from being individual entrepreneurs to collective kind of business if they are to expand their business. I further wish to challenge SMEs in the country to improve on their packaging if they are to attract market for their produce,” said the PS.
And speaking at the same event ZDA Board Chairperson Mary Ncu’be said standards are an important tool to enhance competitiveness in trade.
Ms Ncu’be said standards help to reduce technical barriers to trade and cost as they facilitate access to market.
She added that ZDA and Zambia’s aspiration is for small and medium scale enterprises grow beyond the level of existence.