Bulawayo MSMEs Embrace Digital Future at Winter Expo
The Bulawayo MSMEs Winter Expo kicked off on 06 June with a rousing call for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to embrace digital technologies to enhance their competitiveness and reach new markets.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Paul Nyoni, the representative emphasised the central role of MSMEs in the socio-economic development of the country.
“MSMEs play an important role in the socio-economic development of our country, contributing significantly to innovation, employment creation and poverty reduction,” Nyoni said.
He added, “In Bulawayo province, we have 229,091 MSMEs according to the 2021 National MSMEs Series. Indeed, these statistics bear testimony to the central role MSMEs play in our country.”
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged the government’s commitment to ensuring the participation of the informal sector in the economic development of the country, in line with the President’s vision of leaving no one behind.
Addressing the theme of the expo, “Re-inventing insurance and microfinance distribution in a dynamic digital era with SMEs in mind,” Nyoni highlighted the importance of leveraging technology for SMEs to streamline operations and enhance their competitiveness.
“In today’s digital world, leveraging technology is no longer optional for SMEs and it is essential for streamlining operations and the development of SMEs,” he stated.
He further explained, “In fact, SMEs are required to improve their competitiveness by enhancing efficiency, enhancing customer experiences and reaching out to new clients by improving their competitiveness.”
In addition, Nyoni also acknowledged the challenges faced by SMEs, including low productivity and competitiveness, and the ministry’s efforts to address these issues through various interventions.
“To address these challenges, the ministry, guided by the MSME Policy Framework, is implementing a number of interventions in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to promote the development and growth of the sector,” he stated.
He added, “These include formalisation, funding support, business management and technical skills training, market development and trade promotion, workspace support, standardisation and quality assurance, and production and support equipment.”
Nyoni also expressed gratitude to the organisers of the expo, including the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, and its partners, and called for increased cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the shared vision of promoting the development and growth of the MSME sector.
“To the stakeholders here present, the MSME Fraternity, let me reiterate that to achieve our shared vision of promoting the development and growth of the sector, we need more cooperation, collaboration and synergies,” he concluded.
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