Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) holds a Special Prime Minister Round Table to look at the State of the Economy

The need for a resilient Kenyan Economy takes priority as KEPSA holds a Special Prime Minister Round Table on the State of the Economy in Nairobi - February 29, 2012

Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) today held a Special Prime Minister Round Table to look at the State of the Economy. The discussions focused on the four thematic areas that have been identified as key factors that affect the Economy:
• Cost of Living
• Employment & Productivity
• Competitiveness and Regional Integration
• Trade and Investment

the Prime Minister assured the Private Sector that the government is equally concerned about the state of the Mombasa Port which affects many aspects of doing business. In addition to the ongoing Rapid Results Initiative, a special team will be dispatched to the Port to ensure that the congestion is cleared and put in place lasting solutions perennial inefficiencies. He was categorical that the government will solve the operational challenges at the Port of Mombasa to justify and give credence to constructing another Port in Lamu.

The various recommendations and commitments arrived at on the various thematic areas will be consolidated and made public in a week’s time.
The Special Prime Minister Round Table had more than 200 participants drawn from the government, the development partners, the diplomatic community and the Private Sector.

MBAO PENSION SCHEME

The Mbao (Kshs 20-a-day) or National Jua Kali Pension scheme which targets jua kali (or informal sector workers) artisans was developed by the National Federation of Kenya Jua Kali Associations and the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA).

The individual pension plan is registered by both the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and RBA as Blue MSMEs Jua Kali Individual Retirement Benefit Scheme, which therefore allows it to run retirement plans for individual members.

The Mbao scheme is a voluntary pension savings program aimed to help people save for retirement, with the name ‘Mbao’ derived from the minimum Kshs 20 daily contribution that registered make to offer them a reliable income when they eventually retire from their jobs or businesses.

The common characteristics of the Jua Kali sector are that most are small-scale operations with individual or family ownership; players in the sector have no access to institutional credit facilities or other support and protection mechanisms; experience seasonal incomes and workers are generally not issued with pay slips.

Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) holds a SME Stake Holders Workshop in Kampala, Uganda.

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) which is going through the process of identifying opportunities to provide SME support held a one day “SME Stake Holders Workshop” on 30th January 2012 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda.

The objective of the workshop was to identify solutions to SME challenges that lie within Trademark East Africa's mandate and to identify potential partners for the same .the discussions covered SME constraints (internal and external) that Small Businesses face in the EAC region.

The specific purpose of the workshop was to build TMEA's understanding of support available to SMEs and to identify gaps where TMEA can intervene as well as possible partners.

TMEA is a not for profit organization which promotes regional trade and economic integration in the East African Community by working closely with the East African Community (EAC), institutions, National Governments, Business and the Civil Society Organizations and has presence in the five EAC Partner States

The Workshop was facilitated by DMT Consultants

THE 12TH, EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MSE JUA KALI/NGUVU KAZI EXHIBITION COMES TO AN END

The Micro and Small Enterprises Sector Associations representing the informal Economic sector in the East African Community Region along with the five member states of the East African Community (United Republic of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi) has been hosting one of the biggest regional Exhibitions in the East African Community that ended on 11th December 2011.

The Exhibition brought together more than 600 small business owners who showcased their services and products from the five East African countries. The theme of the Exhibition was “Accelerating Innovations and Investment in the Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Sector for EAC Regional Competitiveness”

Among The objectives of the Exhibition are:

• Bridging the gaps in trade, culture and social economic imbalances in the region.
• Creating awareness of the sector’s potential in producing and providing essential affordable goods and services, respectively
• Creating instant expanded marketing outlets for the sector’s products/services
• Creating expanded investment opportunities for the regional up-coming/emerging entrepreneurs
• Initiating dialogue between the entrepreneurs and sharing knowledge in technology and business techniques
• Facilitating sector mobilization and empowerment at regional level
• Encouraging and facilitating local and regional tourism
• Accord the regional artisans an opportunity to participate in regional programmes.
• Enhancing personal interaction for extended social and business relationships.
A report on the above Exhibition will be circulated after adoption by the EAC Jua kali/Nguvu Kazi Steering Committee.

We wish to thank all those who participated and contributed towards making the 12th EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Regional Exhibition a success.

Regards
Richard N. Muteti
Regional Project Manager, 12TH EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibition

The 12th East African Community Regional Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibition

The 12th East African Community Regional Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibition starts in Kampala, Uganda on the 4th to 10th December 2011.

The theme of the Exhibition is “Accelerating Innovations and Investment in the Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Sector for EAC Regional Competitiveness”
The range of new and innovative products on display include

among others; indigenous Agro-ptocessing technologies, stone and wood works; wall drapes, textiles, natural medicine and honey, hospital beds, plastics, energy saving stoves, warmers, chippers, ovens, sculptures, processed foods and leather products among others

Workshop on “Promotion of SMEs: SME Networks and Business Linkages in Africa” 17th-18th November 2011

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has just concluded a workshop on the above captioned. The meeting was held at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objective and scope of the workshop

• The overall objective of the workshop was to discuss the key issues involved in the development and implementation of networks of SMEs aimed at alleviating some of the challenges faced by SMEs in Africa.
• To highlight best practices and share experience in the development and implementation of networks of SMEs in Africa and elsewhere and to discuss how SMEs can benefit from existing SME networks
The workshop brought together participants drawn from:
• ECA Consultant specializing in SME networks
• Experts from practitioners on SME networks from selected SADC and EAC countries, and Ethiopia
• Representatives of AFDB, UNDP, UNCTAD, IFC and UNIDO
• Representatives from bilateral partners like Finland, UK, etc
• Selected SMEs and large companies from participating countries and
• Staff members from the ECA Secretariat, including from sub-regional offices

THE SME HANDBOOK GOES TO TANZANIA

Mr. Josephat Rweyemamu, the Chairman of the Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations in Tanzania (CISO-TZ) receives the SME HandBook from the SME HandBook Team Leader Mr. Richard N. Muteti on behalf of the informal sector organizations in Tanzania

looking on is Mrs Jane Kijiko, Chair Person for the Association of East African Women Entrepreneurs at a brief ceremony in Dar Es Salaam