The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun
Aganga, has said that Federal Government is currently engaging all
stakeholders in the private sector including the small and medium
enterprises operators in policies formulation and other issues that
concern business development and economic growth in the country.Aganga, who stated this at a workshop recently in Lagos, disclosed
that the Federal Government has approved the creation of SMEs industrial
zones where various SMEs operators can converge to enjoy lowest cost
amenities in the running of their businesses.
He said the Council for Small and Medium Enterprises inaugurated by the Federal Government has been saddled with the responsibility of proffering solutions to the challenges of the sub-sector, adding that it has found out the various challenges militating against the development of SMEs and was ready to address them through its inclusive economic policy.
“As you know, the focus of this government is on inclusive economy and you can’t have inclusive economy if you don’t focus on micro, small and medium enterprises. They are the engines of any economy anywhere in the world. What the government is doing now is to make sure that we fully understand the barriers, the problems SMEs have, and to have an institutional approach to address their issues. We know they have issues in terms of finance, we know they have issues in terms of cost of operation, we know they have issues in terms of market access, in terms of modern technology, all these areas are the areas the new council established by the President will be addressing, and one of the ways to address the issues of their cost of production is to make sure they have dedicated SME industrial zones legally,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, who commended the government on its various efforts geared towards the development of SMEs and especially the newly established Council for SMEs, noted that the partnership between the private sector, government and the media is moving the sector forward as he advocated a stronger synergy that would move the sector to the level of the global standard.
Commenting on agriculture development in the country, Badaru said given the place of agriculture in national development, especially as it remains the guarantee to food security, job creation, raw materials production for industrial growth and generation of foreign exchange for the country, there was need to encourage the players in the sector to harness its potentials.
“While we are not unaware of the enormity of the challenges impeding the full realisation of the foregoing, NACCIMA is of the view that the Federal Government should not rest on its oars until we achieve the full realisation of the country’s agricultural potentials.
He said the Council for Small and Medium Enterprises inaugurated by the Federal Government has been saddled with the responsibility of proffering solutions to the challenges of the sub-sector, adding that it has found out the various challenges militating against the development of SMEs and was ready to address them through its inclusive economic policy.
“As you know, the focus of this government is on inclusive economy and you can’t have inclusive economy if you don’t focus on micro, small and medium enterprises. They are the engines of any economy anywhere in the world. What the government is doing now is to make sure that we fully understand the barriers, the problems SMEs have, and to have an institutional approach to address their issues. We know they have issues in terms of finance, we know they have issues in terms of cost of operation, we know they have issues in terms of market access, in terms of modern technology, all these areas are the areas the new council established by the President will be addressing, and one of the ways to address the issues of their cost of production is to make sure they have dedicated SME industrial zones legally,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, who commended the government on its various efforts geared towards the development of SMEs and especially the newly established Council for SMEs, noted that the partnership between the private sector, government and the media is moving the sector forward as he advocated a stronger synergy that would move the sector to the level of the global standard.
Commenting on agriculture development in the country, Badaru said given the place of agriculture in national development, especially as it remains the guarantee to food security, job creation, raw materials production for industrial growth and generation of foreign exchange for the country, there was need to encourage the players in the sector to harness its potentials.
“While we are not unaware of the enormity of the challenges impeding the full realisation of the foregoing, NACCIMA is of the view that the Federal Government should not rest on its oars until we achieve the full realisation of the country’s agricultural potentials.
