SME Growth Policy document launchedEntrepreneurial winds of change Small and medium enterprises will usher in a new era of local value addition with the help of a new policy document. The Ministry of Trade, Industrialisation and SME Development has launched a new policy document seeking to encourage SME growth and value addition.Game meat processing, Swakara wool processing, metal fabrication, seafood, handicrafts and jewellery were among the industries mentioned at the document launch.
“Industry growth strategies and the new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise National Policy aim at shaping a new business environment for Namibian businesses but policies and strategies alone do not help if they are not followed by implementation,” the minister of trade, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, said upon launching the strategy:.
“Any strategy is only as good as its implementation,” he added.
“It is through the execution of the Ten Industry Growth Strategies as well as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise National Policy that the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, in close cooperation with other line ministries, will support local value addition, upgrading and economic diversification.”
The policy and the Ten Industry Growth Strategies were developed in conjunction with public and private stakeholders.
“Trust has been built; good working relationships have been initiated. It goes without saying that the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development will continue engaging with the stakeholders in order to steer the implementation process,” the minister said.
“Only greater cooperation between government and entities from the private sector and civil society will lead us to success, as micro, small and medium enterprise development and uplifting ten industries will require a steady and continuous commitment from all stakeholders.
“In order to achieve this, the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development is committed to actively promote stronger working relationships between all partners.
“We can work together towards a successful and result-oriented stance that would ensure sectoral growth and the inclusion of MSMEs in our mainstream economy in order to contribute to increased value addition and sustainable growth of our country. We must work hard and smarter; we must be the jackal that thrives next to the lions of this world.”
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