Launch of the SME Handbook (Second Edition)

                featuring Information, Services and Products for small business owners in Kenya

Monday, 26^th October, 2015 at the Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi -The second edition of the SME Handbook has been launched by Hon. Adan Mohammed, Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization and Enterprise Development. The Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of information, products and services for small business owners in Kenya aimed at addressing the critical need for information on service providers in the SME sector.

The updated second edition reflects the current dynamics of the ever growing information needs by small business owners (SMEs) in Kenya. The book also gives special attention to the now devolved services.

“We are excited to launch The Handbook which comes in to seal the information gap that exists between opportunities and SMEs. Lack of knowledge on where to access business services and products by small businesses continues to be a major obstacle to their development and growth. This is despite the fact that a lot of organizations have a lot of services for small business people. Scanty information about the market is also hindering SMEs from taking advantage of emerging opportunities. The second edition of the SME Handbook brings all relevant information in a single easy to read book,” remarked Richard Muteti, the SME Handbook Project team leader

At the function the Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization and Enterprise Development noted “The Government fully rec­ognises the critical role that the private sector, development partners, and other stakeholders are playing in ensuring appropriate products and services are availed to MSMEs. This is why my ministry has collaborated with the SME Handbook which is in line with the national goal of developing this sector as the government continues to support similar initiatives that help in reaching our objectives for the sector.”

The second edition of the SME Handbook will be distributed through the National and County Government information centres, various apex Business member organizations in the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Women and Young Entrepreneurs sector, national and county business information centers among other outlets.

The first edition of the SME Handbook was launched in September, 2011 by the then Minister for Trade. The Handbook received a lot of support from both the public and private sector and was adopted by the Ministry of Trade and key institutions, as a reference publication in the Business Information Centers (BICs) situated across the country

The SME Handbook is a project of Small and Medium Enterprise Support, East Africa (SMES, EA) through the SME Handbook Secretariat in collaboration with a technical team of key public and private sector stakeholders.

SMEs, especially those located upcountry; have major problems accessing business services largely because there is little awareness of what the market is offering.

SMEs have been cited as one of the key sectors expected to drive Kenya’s Economic growth. This sector is also expected to provide the bulk of jobs for youth.

The SME Handbook Project is headed by Mr. Richard Muteti who is The SME Handbook Project Team Leader and Directed by Ms Lydiah Njoroge

Preparation for the second edition of The SME Handbook is underway

Preparation for the second edition of The SME Handbook is underway to facilitate small businesses Access to Services & Products

Lack of information on where to access business services and products by small businesses continues to be a major obstacle to their development and growth.

The second edition of the comprehensive SME Handbook aimed at addressing the critical need for information on service providers to the SME sector in Kenya is currently being developed. The Handbook is a project of the Small and Medium Enterprise Support, East Africa (SMES, EA) and is being produced and published in collaboration with several stakeholders from both the private and public sector in Kenya

The first edition of the SME Handbook was launched in September, 2011 by Hon. Chirau Ali Mwakwere, the then Minister for Trade. The Handbook received a lot of support from both the public and private sector and was adopted by the Ministry of Trade and key institutions, as a key reference publication in the Business Information Centers (BICs) situated across the country.

The second edition is being updated to reflect the current dynamics of the ever growing information needs of the small businesses sector in Kenya and will give special attention to the now devolved services from both the private and public sector.

The second edition is set for launch in the third quarter of 2015. It will be distributed through the various apex member organizations in the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Women and Young Entrepreneurs sector, national and county Government business information centers among other outlets.

SMEs, especially those located upcountry; have major problems accessing business services largely because there is little awareness of what the market is offering.

This is a serious handicap, and is hindering SMEs from seeking the services they desperately need to grow. This is despite the fact that a lot of organizations have been formed in the last few years specifically to address the business needs of SMEs. scant information about the market is also hindering SMEs from taking advantage of emerging opportunities.

SMES have been cited as one of the key sectors expected to drive the growth of the Kenyan economy, and are expected to provide the bulk of jobs for Kenyan youth as well as being the engine for economic development.

The initiative is headed by Mr. Richard N. Muteti who is the team leader and is managed by Lydia Gacari who is the project Director

For more information

The Team Leader,

The SME Handbook Secretariat

info@thesmehandbook.com

EA-CISO and EAC top leadership meets with Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta President of The Republic of Kenya, Chair of The Summit of Head of States of EAC and Patron of EA-CISO

The EAC regional leadership of the East African Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations (EA-CISO) accompanied by the EAC Chiefs met with the President of the republic of Kenya, H. E. Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta in his capacity as the Chair of The Summit of Head of States of EAC and Patron of EA-CISO ahead of the summit of the Heads of States of the EAC today the 17^th February 2015 at the office of the president, Nairobi.

During the meeting, the EA-CISO leadership briefed the President on some of its achievements which includes:

1. EA-CISO is currently one of the lead partners in the renowned East African Community Jua Kali /Nguvu Kazi Exhibitions that take place annually on a rotational basis in the region. In this cause, the EA-CISO works with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, in collaboration with the EAC Partner States.
2. The Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi exhibition is the biggest single initiative in the EAC that brings many small business people together to promote and expand market opportunities, and encourage competitiveness and innovation in the sector.

3.       Since the inception of the Regional Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibitions, the initiative has enabled the following numbers of exhibitors access to the regional market which consists of more than 140 million people as follows:

Venue	Year	Tanzania	Kenya	Uganda	Rwanda	Burundi	TOTAL
Arusha	1999	41	47	46	0	0	134
Nairobi	2000	52	77	51	0	0	145
Nairobi	2001	85	135	30	0	0	250
Kampala	2002	79	137	123	0	0	339
D’Salaam	2003	207	145	94	0	0	446
Mombasa	2004	103	202	56	32	0	393
Kampala	2005	83	145	56	46	0	330
D’Salaam	2006	326	133	68	32	0	559
Nairobi	2007	156	224	80	50	0	510
Kigali	2008	204	284	123	66	10	742
Dar Es Salaam	2009	479	152	96	75	10	812
Kampala	2011	82	136	122	56	25	421
Bujumbura	2012	87	98	51	38	200	474
Nairobi	2013	271	319	61	55	40	746
Kigali	2014	120	158	95	400	100	873
Total Exhibitors exposed to the regional market to date							7174

4. Has contributed in the widening and deepening cooperation and interaction among the partner states in: trade, social cultural exchanges, sciences and technology, among others.

5. Has brought together many artisans and other Micro Small and Medium sized enterprises operators thus promoting trade and social bonds among themselves.

6. Has provided unique opportunities for the artisans to sharpen and strengthen their capabilities and competitiveness as well as increase their productivity and potential for wealth and employment creation regionally.

7. Has enhanced the EAC integration and the promotion of cross border trade.

8. Has created awareness of the huge economic potential of Micro and Small Enterprises sector in the region.

9. EA-CISO has promoted and facilitated exposure and training tours within the region as follows:

Between 28^th October and 2^nd November 2013, Twenty two (22) Burundian MSE Artisans under the Confederation of Informal Sector Organization- Burundi Chapter visited Kenya on an exposure and training mission. The delegation included Artisans drawn from the following sectors:  Sculpture,   Painting, Leather, Furniture,  Basketry and,  Metal Fabrication.

The Artisans were hosted by the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations and were attached to various Primary MSE Associations across the country were they shared experiences and learned new skills in their areas of interest.

The above is a joint initiative of the KCB Burundi, AHD and EA-CISO among other partners aimed at a regional exchange programme for the MSE Sector in the East African Region.

Among the recommendations of the meeting were;

1                                            that an institution be established dedicated to the development and promotion of the MSE Sector in the EAC region

2                                            that the proposed institution be cascaded in Partner States which will have linkages with the EAC Partner States in line with the MSE Authority in Kenya

3                                            need for the establishment of a one stop shop where EAC Partner State products are showcased within the Capitals and the border crossing points,

4                                            that each Partner States establish permanent standard exhibition grounds where the regional rotational MSE exhibition can be held

5                                            that the EAC should promote the apprenticeship training and certification of the Artisans and

6                                            the EAC should introduce a policy to promote the MSE Sector by insuring that each Partner State and the EAC Head Quarters do promote the buy east African build east African by procuring a minimum of 40% of goods and services from the MSE Sector among others

the EA-CISO delegation was led by the deputy Patron , Mr. Keli Kiilu, Secretary General, Mr.John Kihiu , the Treasurer General, Bbossa and the EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Project Manager Mr. Richard Muteti among others while the EAC Secretariat delegation was led by the Secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera and the Director General (C & T) Mr. Kiguta.in attendance was the  Kenyan Cabinet Secretary responsible for EAC and her Permanent Secretary.