INCREASING awareness among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) about the importance of African sustainability standards is key to increased market access, and long-term sustainability resulting from provision of quality products.
Recently SMEs from over 10 countries in the SADC region converged in Lusaka to deliberate on the importance of product sustainability standards. The three day’s meeting from 4th to 6th December, 2023 focused on Capacity building for African SMEs on product sustainability standards.
Mr. Mulongoti told The Scoop that African product sustainability standards are a cornerstone in equipping SMEs with the necessary knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability standards seamlessly to their operations.
He said that the Government recognized the pivotal role that SMEs play in driving economic activities of the country and their significant contribution to innovation, job and wealth creation.
“SMEs make up the majority of businesses in many countries with more than 90 percent of enterprises in Zambia being classified as SMEs, As Government we are committed to ensuring adequate support for their growth.” Mulongoti said.
He assured that his ministry and other line ministries would ensure there is adequate support to initiatives that are aimed at imparting economic skills across the country.
He said that the idea of just giving handouts had a transitory impact on the lives of the underprivileged and Zambians in general and that is why the new dawn Government is focused at promoting entrepreneurship especially among the young people.
He emphasized that all initiatives aimed at imparting economic skills to women and youths would be adequately supported by the Government.
“The country needs to see more businesses getting established as it is the only way to address the high unemployment levels among women and youths. Government is in a hurry to facilitate the engagement of people in entrepreneurial activities in a bid to ensure that citizens attain life sustaining skills” he said.