HON. DR. PETER MATHUKI , EAC SG MEETS REGIONAL MSMEs SECTOR LEADERS

Richard Muteti CMSEO-EA and Jua Kali Sector CEO, leads a meeting between the East African Community Secretary General Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki and EAC regional representatives of the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Sector in a high level meeting led by the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises Organization East Africa (CMSEO-EA).

A number of issues were deliberated on, including enhancing support for the Annual EAC MSMEs Trade Fair that brings together thousands of MSEs to open up market frontiers, promote cross border trade, closing the gaps in trade and promotes dialogue between regional small businesses among others. The participants agreed to work together to create a mechanism and instruments that addresses a regional MSMEs policy, access to affordable credit, strengthening MSEs visibility and the need for mass vaccinations to the small business owners who cross the regional borders every day. The EAC SG thanked the MSEs sector for being resilient during this pandemic period by continuing to create jobs and opportunities. The EAC SG was accompanied by the EAC Director General, Customs and Trade among other officials while CMSEO-EA was represented by the Chapter leaders from the six EAC Partner States and Richard Muteti, the CMSEO-EA and Jua Kali Sector CEO

Richard Muteti the MSMEs and Jua Kali Sector Chief attends the EAC EABC CEOs Breakfast meeting in Nairobi

calling for the development, promotion and certification of informal/MSMEs sector skills in the EAC region to improve their competitiveness and productivity. “we must prepare the MSMEs Sector players to take advantage of the African continental free trade area- during the EABC CEO breakfast roundtable with EAC Secretary General - Kenyan Chapter held today 06/08/2021

MSMEs constitute more than 80 percent of all total jobs in EAC region

Richard Muteti EAC Regional MSMEs and Jua Kali Sector Chief attends an EASTRIP Meeting in Addis, Ethiopia in July 2021

Three East African countries are participating in the Eastern Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), i.e. Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The project supports the development of highly specialized Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs as well as industry-recognized short term certificate level training, and is targeting regional priority sectors in transport, energy, manufacturing and ICT / the project promotes the mobility of students and faculty within and beyond the region and will establish a community of practice of TVET in the region. A quality demand-driven TVET system can be a powerful engine for youth skills development leading to employment and poverty alleviation

Mr. Richard Muteti is also the Chairman of the COMESA Business Council SMEs Work-Group