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Business News of Saturday, 11 December 2010

Source: GNA

Western Region to establish fund to support SMEs

Takoradi, Dec. 11, GNA - The Western Regional Co-ordinating Council is to establish an Enterprise Development Fund, to support research, product development, technology, training and development of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the region. Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Regional Minister made this known a speech read on his behalf at the first ever regional stakeholders' forum on micro and small scale enterprises development in Takoradi on Friday. The theme for the forum was: "Working together to enhance the growth of SMEs in the Western Region." It was organised by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) under the auspices of the Regional Co-ordinating Council, with support from the Co-operation for the Development of Emerging Countries, European Union and German Technical Co-operation. The forum aimed at soliciting ideas and sharing experiences on micro and small scale enterprises so as to remove obstacles that hinder the growth of small businesses in the region. It was also aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of local businesses and create unique advantage for local businesses as well as stimulate networking among stakeholders. The Regional Minister noted that the SMEs were crucial in the provision of jobs and revenue generation for the growth of the economy, particularly in the wake of the emergence of the oil and gas industry. Mr Aidoo said the SMEs were expected to play a crucial role in the on-shore auxiliary activities in the oil and gas industry. The local content and local participation policy of the government seeks to create an enabling environment and opportunities for all Ghanaians to benefit from the wealth to be derived from the oil and gas industry through participation of local people in ownership operations, control and management, Mr Aidoo said. He said the major thrust of the government had been to assist the small business sector to grow and facilitate national development. The Regional Manager of the NBSSI, Mr John Gershon Koomson, said even though a number of interventions had been made in the sector, small scale enterprises sector still faced a number of problems. He said, it was therefore urgent to focus attention in the development and promotion of micro and small scale enterprises, especially in the region. Mr Koomson said the problems of SMEs were largely interconnected and needed integrated and comprehensive approach. He noted that the approach should be a co-ordination of government, public and private institutions concerned with small scale businesses in order to offer comprehensive support to SMEs. 11 Dec. 10