By Rudo Saungweme
The 8th Edition of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) International Expo was successfully launch at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) yesterday.
Speaking on behalf of honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Community, and SMEs Development Sithembiso Nyoni, Principal Director of the Ministry, Air Commodore Dexter Dumba said, “It gives me pleasure to officiate at this 8th edition of the SME International Expo which has become one of the premier platforms on our SMEs development calendar where SMEs exhibit their products and services to the public as a growth strategy.”
SMEs International Expo Director Delight Makotose said “the SMEs business is growing at an alarming rate as there were only eighty seven exhibitors at Harare Agricultural Show but at the Expo the number has increased to over three hundred.
In his speech Dumba said SMEs have contributed significantly to the turnaround of the economic fortunes of many countries across the globe. “Globally, SMEs are being hailed for their pivotal role in promoting grassroots economic growth and equitable sustainable development. It has also been established that SMEs tolerate high-risk initiatives which are shunned by large corporates, they are flexible and can adapt to the environments in which they operate from, “he said.
Local banks have also pledged their support to ensure SMEs grow. Post Office Savings Bank, CABS, Home link and Women`s Bank are among the financial institutions that assist the SMEs. Women`s Bank CEO said, “We are there to finance your business line. We also do capacity building.”
SMEs International expo has been hailed for assisting small businesses to grow through marketing their products to a number of countries. SMEs bring together industrialists, traders and potential investors from within Zimbabwe, across Africa and the rest of the world.
