Mr. Joe Tackie, Coordinator, Private Sector Development II, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), has stated the need for Ghana to develop a vibrant private sector to deliver jobs and livelihood to majority of Ghanaians.

This, he said could be done by strengthening and positioning Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) to compete globally.

“It also means that we need to focus on improving the quality of our enterprise for productive innovation.”

Mr. Tackie stated at the Second Joint Coordinating Committee meeting for the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project in Accra.

The three -year Project is to formulate a strategic Model for Quality and Productivity Improvement through Strengthening Business Development Service for Micro and Small Enterprises.

It also aims at developing the capacity of the Business Advisory Centres in Ashanti Region in the provision and facilitation which would be replicated in the other nine regions.

According to him, increasing productivity among SMEs is the third strategic initiative under the Private Sector Development Strategy II and it aimed at investing in business management and training in business development services.

“I am convinced that the current national structure of NBSSI positions the organisation as the only one with the capacity to increase the supply of good quality services and making them more affordable to smaller firms,” Mr. Tackie stated.

Mr. Jiro Inamura, Chief Representative, JICA Ghana, said the Project is important to Ghana, stressing on the need to ensure its sustainability.

Mr. Lukman Abdul-Rahim, Executive Director, NBSSI urged Ghanaians in Small Scale Enterprises to take advantage of the numerous funding opportunities that are available to boost their businesses.

The Project is jointly funded by Ghana through MOTI and the Japanese Government.