MSMEs Partners with TIVETS in Kenya

RICHARD MUTETI CEO Jua Kali Federation viewing Vehicle body building skills in-house
Inspecting the manufacturing of bodies for passenger-carrying vehicles by the Jua Kali sector at Kariobangi
our partnership with the TVETs will benefit through recognition of members prior and on the job learning outcomes through certification of their hard-earned competencies

The African Union Commission begins the process of validating SME Strategy and Master Plan 2017-2021

Nairobi, Kenya – 10 October 2016. The African Union Commission (AUC) began today the process of validating the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Strategy and Master Plan 2017-2021 during a two-day workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. The objective of the initiative is to develop an African Union strategic framework which will support the implementation of the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) and Africa’s sustainable economic transformation under Agenda 2063. The workshop was attended by the Senior Industry Officers from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Private Sector and Development Partners. AUC and UNECA officials co-chaired the working sessions

The SME Strategy and Master Plan 2017-2021 aims, among others, at improving the continental business environment, increasing business formation, supporting formalization of growth-oriented informal enterprises and startups, increasing SME/Is, MSMEs and entrepreneurs’ participation in regional and global value chains and promoting innovative financing.

Mrs. Treasure Thembisile Maphanga, Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the African Union Commission, commended participants for their continuous commitment in supporting the Department of Trade and Industry to contribute to the sustainable structural transformation of the continent through Industrialization. She praised RECs and Experts from various institutions including the European Union, JICA, Traidlinks, UNCTAD, UNECA and Canadian Government who worked closely with the Commission during the last few months by providing comments and inputs in order to enrich the draft SME Strategy and Master Plan. The Director pointed out that Industrialization has recently become a high priority for more countries and more cooperating partners. She echoed the tragedy that migrants are going through while trying to join Europe and the high rate of youth’s unemployment. According to her, the continent’s industrialization appears to be the winning strategy that will accelerate job creation and poverty alleviation for the coming years in addition to support the continent’s sustainable structural transformation.

Mrs. Maphanga referred to some key statistics about the youth population in Africa to highlight the importance of taking advantage of its full potential. “In 2015, 226 million youth aged 15-24 lived in Africa, accounting for 19 per cent of the global youth population.  By 2030, it is projected that the number of youth in Africa will have increased by 42 per cent. Africa’s youth population is expected to continue to grow throughout the remainder of the 21st century, more than doubling from current levels by 2055”, she emphasized. She urged the audience to deepen its reflections and support productive capacities while discussing the issue of youth and start-ups. To harness the youth’s demographic dividend, which is the 2017 theme of the African Union, the Director for Trade and Industry indicated that research has identified some policy actions related to SME Development as key levers. “According to the findings, economic reforms to create more quality jobs with multiplier effects, enhance innovation and productivity of the informal sector and support graduation from small to medium sized enterprises, as well as transformative education to focus on innovation, skills development, science and technology and entrepreneurship are winning strategies”, she underscored.

The SME Strategy and Master Plan identifies initiatives that should be undertaken in the next five years that are aimed at unleashing the potential of SME/Is and MSMEs - the drivers of African economies’ growth to create employment, reduce poverty and promote by ensuring that women, young people and underserved populations, including those in rural areas, benefit from economic growth.

The EABC was represented by Mr. Richard Muteti the SME focal point

UGANDA HOSTED THE 17TH EAC JUA KALI SMEs EXHIBITION IN KAMPALA, UGANDA

The East African community Jua Kali / Nguvu Kazi exhibition was started in 1999 at Arusha in Tanzania during the signing of the treaty that established the East African Community .It is  a yearly rotational initiative started by the East African community Secretariat In collaboration with the EAC Partner States through the East African Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations (EA-CISO) . the regional exhibition acts as a platform for carrying out marketing initiatives for the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) products and services which has been branded “JUA KALI /NGUVU KAZI”. This exhibition was the 17^th since its inception

After  the inauguration  of the first regional exhibition  in Arusha (1999), subsequent  exhibitions have been held in Nairobi (2000 and 2001), Kampala (2002), Dar es Salaam (2003) Mombasa (2004), Kampala (2005), Dar es Salaam (2006) ,Nairobi (2007), Kigali (2008), Dar es Salaam (2009), Kampala (2011), Bujumbura (2012), Nairobi (2013) , Kigali (2014), Dar es Salaam (2015) and the 17^th Exhibition in Kampala  in 2016. The exhibition exposes the MSEs to the vast Regional market of over  140 million people and acts as  a platform  availing the Micro and Small Entrepreneurs of East African Region new market for their products and bridging-up the technological gaps between them .

The 17^th EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi exhibition was managed by Mr. Richard Muteti who is the Regional Project Manager and it was held at the UMA exhibition grounds in Kampala Uganda from 5th to 11th  DECEMBER, 2016

East African Legislative Assembly Members from Kenya meets the EAC MSE leaders from Kenyan and the MSE Authority

High level meeting held today between the Kenyan Members of Parliament from the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Micro and Small enterprises Authority (MSEA) and  EAC Regional MSE leaders from Kenya

The meeting held on 21^st April 2016 at the MSEA headquarters discussed the following;

The current status of the MSE and the MSE ecosystem in Kenya presented by the CEO of MSEA Mr. Patrick Mwangi

A brief on the MSE regional harmonization and cross border trade within the East African Region presented by Mr. Richard Muteti, CEO of Kenya National federation of Jua Kali Associations and current Regional Project Manager of the EAC Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi Exhibitions

The role of EAC on MSEs

The meeting come up with several recommendations and agreed on a number of ways to promote and develop the small businesses sector both in Kenya and the EAC region

COMESA BUSINES COUNCIL - LOCAL SOURCING for PARTNERSHIPS WORKSHOP takes place in Kenya, from the 23rd to 26th February 2016

theme, “Building Sustainable Sourcing Partnerships between SMEs and Corporate Companies”, 

this event is hosted by COMESA Business Council (CBC) , Kenya Association of Manufacturers and  the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations

This capacity strengthening exercise is focused on the development of an action plan on strengthening the inclusiveness of SMEs into value chains at firm and sectoral level in Africa. The end result is to create a sustainable sourcing system from indigenous Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that ensures business meet the standards required for them to effectively participate in a competitive supply chain network of corporate companies present in the region.

This will increase local sourcing from small growth enterprises in the agro manufacturing and agriculture sectors by large corporate companies in the COMESA region through training on the Global Food Safety Management Systems, and facilitating the integration of the SMEs into the competitive supply chain network of corporate companies and key regional value chains.

Richard N. Muteti

CEO, Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations (KNFJKA)

Director, Small and Medium Enterprise Support, East Africa (SMEs-EA)

Chairman, COMESA Business Council SMEs Workgroup

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