Business News of Saturday, 26 March 2011

Source: GNA

SMEs urged to take advantage of ICT to improve operations

Kumasi, March 26, GNA - Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to take advantage of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to improve their operations.

Mr Solomon Allotey, Head of Management of Information System (MIS) of Eximguaranty Company (GH) Limited, said this was the way to go if they were to achieve growth and to increase their market share. He was making a presentation at a day's workshop for managers and directors of SMEs drawn from Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and West regions in Kumasi.

Mr Allotey spoke on 93Enhancing SME productivity and efficiency through corporate governance and the use of ICT." The workshop, organized by Eximguaranty Company Limited, brought together about 100 participants.

Mr Allotey said there should not be any illusion about the fact the SMEs were important growth pillars and therefore their strong performance would be of tremendous benefit to the national economy. It was on account of this that they needed to be encouraged to fully explore the opportunities offered by ICT to achieve high level of efficiency and become competitive.

Its effective use had proved to be a vital tool for growing businesses across the world and expanding market boundaries. Mr Allotey said the SMEs would, however, require some support from government to translate the benefits of ICT to their core business by way of improved communications infrastructure, access and affordability of ICT equipment. 26 March 11