Breaking News

FG Restates Commitment To Development Of MSMEs Sector

Ebuka Daniel

 The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment,  Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum  has reiterated  the Federal Government’s  commitment  to the growth of Micro , Small and Medium Enterprise for enhanced contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

The Minister made this known in her statement at the 7th EMPRETEC Global Summit, held virtually  with the theme “The Role of Entrepreneurship, MSME and Empretec in post COVID-19 Resurgence.”

According to the Minister, the Federal Government had rolled out various interventions to reposition MSMEs for increased and sustained contribution to the national economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we are all aware, the MSME sector is the engine of growth of any economy, contributing to its development, job creation and export, amongst others.

“An MSMEs survey indicates that Nigeria’s SMEs contribute nearly 50 percent of the country’s GDP and account for over 80 percent of employment. No doubt, the sector is pivotal to Nigeria’s growth, including reducing poverty and unemployment levels.

“It has, therefore, become more apparent that supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses by creating opportunities for MSMEs to thrive is essential for increasing productivity, creating jobs, and boosting our economy.

“This is why Government is working with stakeholders across all sectors, to create the enabling environment for entrepreneurs and MSMEs to ensure that they grow now and into the future,”  the Minister  stated.

Katagum said that the Federal Government was repositioning the MSMEs to compete globally  with their counterparts, through effective implementation of policies and programmes.

She added that the Federal Government, through its Economic Sustainability Committee, had rolled out specific programmes aimed at cushioning the impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs businesses.

According to her, the programmes include, the Survival Fund and Guaranteed Off-take Schemes, which are managed by a Steering Committee in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

She added, “The Government of Nigeria had, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, initiated the MSMEs Clinics’ scheme as a strategy, aimed at providing support for the MSMEs in the country.

“At the clinics, which is organised in various States  of the country,  operators in the MSMEs space are engaged by regulators and business advisory experts, on issues ranging from entrepreneurship, skill development, finance, quality & standards, and on how to facilitate and grow their businesses and enterprises.”

The Minister further stressed that in order to achieve sustainable growth and development of MSMEs, the Federal Government  had recently approved the revised National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises  which would provide the framework to resolve the  challenges  faced by the sector.

Katagum  also added that the Ministry has commenced engagement with stakeholders  with a view to enriching the draft National Policy on Start-ups which is designed to reposition the nation’s  start- ups to be major contributor to the nation,s Gross Domestic Product.

The Minister commended Empretec Nigeria Foundation and other stakeholders for their continued commitment  to the plight and progress of entrepreneurs and the MSMEs.

About Editor

Check Also

Report to Me Any of My Officials Who Obstruct Progress or Ask for Bribe – President Tinubu to Qatari Investors

President Bola Tinubu has assured the international business community that Nigeria is ready for serious …

Leave a Reply