THE 9th COMESA BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS FORUM AND LINKAGES FAIR- 21st-22nd , 2014- KINSHASA, DRC.

A MERGER BETWEEN BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ;

Integrating Competitiveness for  supply and value chains in the COMESA Region

 The upcoming 9th COMESA Business Partnerships Forum and Linkages Fair will be hosted in the sidelines of the 17th COMESA Heads of State Summit. The event will be held from the 21^st-22^nd of February 2014, in Kinshasa DRC, under the theme: The Merger Between Business And Innovation; Integrating Competitiveness For Supply And Value Chains In The COMESA Region.

The event brings together the key manufacturing Associations, leading international, regional and national companies and the Small and Medium Enterprises from the 19 COMESA member ountries.  The focus for 9^th COMESA Business Partnerships Forum and Fair will be promoting supply chain and value chain integration in the region, and harnessing innovation, technology for competitiveness. Issues for discussion include: 

·         Improving Efficiency through Regional Value Chains;

·         Innovation and Technology- leveraging technology for competitiveness;

·         Boosting Investment for Agriculture Sector;

·         Partnership for Profit and Competitiveness-Corporate Social Investment for Value;

·         Exploring Investment Opportunities for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing of Generic Drugs;  

·         Protecting authentic African Products and Dealing with Counterfeit and Parallel Imports.

 Various speakers from leading companies, private sector Associations, SME’s in the region have been invited to present and  lead oral discussions on the various topics. The intended outcome is to identify best practices, constraints and  propose solutions that will be used as advocacy positions on behalf of industry at the COMESA Summit; and also boost trade and private sector development.  

Richard N. Muteti

The Chairperson

COMESA Business Council SMEs Workgroup

Chairman of the East African Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations (EA-CISO), Mr. Bwatuti passes on in Mombasa, Kenya

Mr. James Bwatuti the late founder and chairman of both EA-CISO and the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations died on 12^th December 2013 in Mombasa after a short illness.

The Late Mr. Bwatuti is credited with leading an advocacy campaign throughout the East African region for the recognition and promotion of small businesses. The late Mr.  Bwatuti was buried at his rural home in Bogwendo Location in Nyamira County – Kenya on 23^rd December 2013.

May God rest his Soul in Eternal peace.

Burundian MSE Artisans visits Kenya on an Exposure and training tour

MSE Stakeholder Brief:

 

Twenty two (22) Burundian MSE Artisans under the Confederation of Informal Sector Organization- Burundi Chapter visited Kenya between 28^th October and 2^nd November 2013 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.

KENYA TO HOST THE 14TH EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY JUA KALI/ NGUVU KAZI MSEs EXHIBITION FROM 1ST TO 8TH DECEMBER IN NAIROBI, KENYA

MSE Stakeholders Brief:

Kenya will host the East African Community 14^th Jua Kali (MSEs) Regional Exhibition between 1^st and 8^th December 2013 at the KICC COMESA Grounds.

At the 1^st EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Steering Committee meeting held on the 14^th  August 2013 in Nairobi, the Committee resolved that the participation of the Exhibitors shall  be distributed as follows:

Serial Number	Partner State	Number of Exhibitors
1.0	Kenya	600
2.0	Uganda	120
3.0	Rwanda	60
4.0	Burundi	40
5.0	The United Republic of Tanzania	250

 

In the meeting attended by representatives from the five Partner States (Ministries Responsible for the MSE Sector), EAC Secretariat and CISO- East Africa Partner States Chairmen, it was agreed that a total of 1070 Exhibitors will showcase their products. These exhibitors will be drawn from all the five East African Partner States.

It is expected that the EAC  Partner States shall  constitute Country Organizing Committee to spearhead the preparations.

The members of EAC Steering Committee on the preparations of the 14^th EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibition paid a courtesy call to the Principle Secretary, Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development on 23^rd August 2013 at the Ministry’s Board Room. The main purpose of the courtesy call was to:

(i)                 Introduce the members of the EAC Steering Committee on the preparations of the 14^th EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibition,

(ii)              Inform him that Kenya will be hosting the exhibition, and

(iii)            Brief him on the outcome of the 1^st EAC Steering Committee Meeting on the preparations of the exhibition

The Principal Secretary informed the meeting that the exhibition will be one of the curtain raisers for the Jubilee Celebrations on the 50^th year Anniversary since Kenya gained its independence.

 

Richard N. Muteti, HSC
Chief Executive, Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations;
Regional Project Manager, East Africa Community Jua Kali / Nguvu Kazi Exhibitions

Chairman, COMESA Business Council SMEs Workgroup

Koinange Street, Cianda House Rm 220
P.O. Box 6101-00100 Nairobi Kenya
Phone: +254 722 528 273 +254 020 224 3283
Blogspot: comesa-smes.blogspot.com - smeseastafrica.blogspot.com

 Email:-juakalisector@yahoo.com / info@smeseastafrica.com / rnmuteti@yahoo.com

COMESA Secretariat organizes for a validation workshop for the COMESA Regional SMEs Policy Strategy Paper 20th -21st Lusaka, Zambia

The above is informed by the fact that while COMESA has made significant strides in addressing barriers to trade, little has been done in the area of BUILDING PRODUCTIVE CAPACITIES for LOCAL INDUSTRIES to exploit the opportunities presented through elimination of the same.

 

For this reason and in line with the theme of the recent Summit held in Kampala Uganda 2012, COMESA has developed a draft policy  strategy paper for the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which will be a guiding framework for member states seeking to support and develop the sector.

Richard N. Muteti

Chief Executive, Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations;

Regional Project Manager, East African Community Jua Kali (MSEs) Exhibitions

Chairman, COMESA Business Council SMEs Workgroup

P.O. Box 6101-00100 Nairobi Kenya

Email: rnmuteti@yahoo.com / juakalisector@yahoo.com / info@smeseastafrica.com