Accra, Nov. 19, GNA - The Government will establish a Small and Medi= um Enterprise (SME) Database to provide up-to-date information on the operations and activities of SMEs in various parts of the country. This is with the view to providing information and developing releva= nt support services to the SME sector, Finance and Economic Planning Ministe= r, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, said in his 2011 budget statement to Parliament on Thursday.

He said the Government would also commence the implementation of its=

programme to rehabilitate and strengthen six craft villages across the country. The Minister announced that the National Board for Small Scale Industries would organize 2,000 tailor-made entrepreneurial and technical=

improvement programs for 60,000 entrepreneurs.

The Board would also support 1,800 Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE= ) to improve the packaging and quality of their products and establish 10 n= ew Business Advisory Centres in 10 Districts to support MSE development. Dr Duffuor said the Ghana Standards Board would tighten inspection regime for the inspection of high-risk imported goods to reduce the dumpi= ng of sub-standard goods within the country.

"The Government will continue to work with the various stakeholders to support the small and medium enterprise sector, private sector developmen= t, industrial development and overall economic growth and job creation." The Finance Minister further announced that government had approved a new Industrial Policy for the country, which focused on industrial production and distribution, technology and innovation. Further to support industrial development and local industry the Government would work on comprehensive industrial development and competiveness legislation for the development of local industries through=

the promotion of domestic content both in terms of human and material resources, and the transfer of technology.

He said Government would begin work on the development of a Commodit= y Exchange to connect the buyers and sellers of locally grown agricultural commodities in an efficient, reliable and transparent manner by making us= e of innovation, technology and learning from international best practices from the African continent and beyond. The Government will also begin development of an industrial salt est= ate at Keta in the Volta Region to promote large-scale commercial salt development. This, he said, would be in addition to ongoing SME salt development activities that were ongoing with UNICEF and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.