Speaking during stakeholders’ consultative workshops organised by the EU funded Zantchito Skills for Jobs Programme and the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Lilongwe and Blantyre, representatives from various SME associations unanimously agreed that the operationalisation of the umbrella body is long overdue.
The two workshops were organised to increase awareness, and solicit support and validation from SME associations in the country. The first workshop convened associations from the northern and central regions on the 6th of December at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe and the second workshop took place at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre convening associations from the southern region.
In his opening remarks, Chief Enterprise Development Officer in the Ministry of Trade & Industry, Alexander Mtsendero highlighted the importance of SME associations in Malawi to have an umbrella body that will consolidate their power and ability to speak with one voice as an association. “This body will help to address challenges like constraints to access affordable financing and other issues affecting MSMEs in the country. There are a lot of opportunities and incentives that most SMEs do not access because they work in isolation,” said Alexander.
In her remarks, the interim MUSME Chairperson Mrs Barbara Banda expressed her gratitude to the EU for the technical and financial support rendered towards the operationalisation of the union through the SME Policy component of the Zantchito Skills for Jobs Programme. She said the support will go a long way in transforming the economy of the country. “There are an estimated 1.6 million SMEs in Malawi, which, if well supported can contribute to attaining growth as envisioned in Vision 2063,” she said.
Adebayo Akindeinde, Team Leader, Technical Assistance Team for the EU Funded Zantchito SME Policy component stated that validating MUSME as an umbrella body is imperative as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Bill (MSME Bill 2024) passed by Parliament in September sets this as a prerequisite for SME Associations that wish to formally engage in public-private dialogue. The MSME Bill 2024 aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem for small businesses in Malawi as well as enable public-private dialogue by identifying SME associations able to articulate constraints and engage in advocacy with the government.
