Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Elias Mubanga says the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector has great potential to contribute to the economy of the country.
Mr Mubanga has also pledged full support to SMEs in the country.
“We need the SME sector to stand with government and work together. The SME sector in Zambia is huge and the margins are over 90 percent, this means this is the highest sector where jobs are created,” he said.
He was speaking at a three day joint empowerment training between the ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for 32 Micro and Small Enterprises in Chilanga district.
Mr Mubanga also said it is a new chapter for Zambia and Japan to enhance their cooperation.
“60 years, we have been existing together as partners. This is an indication that this is a new page for us to open a number of business arrangements, transactions, and partnerships,” he said.
Mr Mubanga appreciated JICA for partnering with government to implement the programme.
He urged participants to approach the training opportunity with an open mind and willingness to embrace change.
“Let us seize this opportunity in this moment to inculcate the culture of excellence within our business to unlock the full potential as the engine of economic progress and growth,” he added.
And speaking at the same event JICA Advisor Ito Masaharu said the ministry in partnership with JICA developed the training programme in order to support the 32 manufacturing sector based Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) from Eastern, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces.
Mr Ito said the Empowerment programme is being implemented as a business accelerator.
“The programme will give these enterprises access to business education, mentorship, investors and other support that will help them become stable and self-sufficient,” he added.
He explained that KAIZEN is a Japanese philosophy and methodology that promotes small incremental changes for big impact.
Meanwhile, beneficiary of the programme Bernard Chiwala who is into avocado production and value addition since 2019 said he expects to be assisted with market linkages and scaling up of his business operations.
“On value addition, we have produced Avocado oil and bio fertiliser that farmers can use,” he added.
Mr Chiwala disclosed that through the Lusaka Avocado Cooperative, he managed to grow some market in Italy and needed to scale up to meet the quarterly requirements which is key.
“Avocado is the green gold of this century. They are looking for more players to come in the market so that we can meet the market requirements internationally and locally. I invite people contemplating on starting an enterprise to consider the growth of Avocado. It is a generational investment,” he said.
