Sichula notes positive change in govt’s attitude towards SMEs

Sichula notes positive change in govt’s attitude towards SMEs
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Monday, March 02, 2009 2:30:08 AM

THE government has now started listening to the demandsof small entrepreneurs, Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Association (ZCSMBA) chief executive officer Maxwell Sichula has observed.

Closing a five day Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) organised seminar on Business Plan preparation in Lusaka on Friday, Sichula said the recent draft policy on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the recently launched Citizens Economic Empowerment (CEE) Fund were some of the government’s response to the cries of local entrepreneur.

Sichula also observed that no matter how much foreign direct investment came into the country, Zambia would only be developed by local entrepreneurs.

“Government is now listening to us. The last two to three years, we have made so much noise in terms of lobbying and this has been sufficient because we are seeing government responding more,” Sichula said. “The draft policy which now is with Cabinet will create a legal framework where we can develop and promote this sector.”

Sichula however observed that commercial banks were still averse when it came to offering their services to small and micro entrepreneurs.

He said ZCSMBA was optimistic that the CEE Fund would help to bridge the vacuum in finance created by commercial banks.

“The banks are not interested in working with you as long as you are a small business. Now the CEEC has a fund to help you grow,” he said.

Sichula also implored the participants to put into practice the knowledge gained from the workshop.

He also called for collaboration among entrepreneurs in similar fields to avoid creating unnecessary competition among themselves.

Sichula also observed that local entrepreneurs lacked as much knowledge on business plans as the funds itself.

And ZDA director for micro and small enterprises division Windu Matoka said the agency was this year targeting to train an increasing number of Zambians venturing into entrepreneurship.

Matoka, who was the focal person for the seminar, said ZDA was ready to provide the platform and that participants only needed to pay towards logistics.

Matoka also said micro and small enterprises division had this year alone trained over 100 local entrepreneurs in business management skills.

The five day workshop drew participants from about 35 existing local entrepreneurs from some selected parts of the country.