Official: Venturing into SMEs will reduce unemployment

THE involvement of unemployed youths in the small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) sector is vital as it reduces the country’s unemployment rate, an official says.
Enga Women in Agriculture Association (Ewaa) president Margaret Potane said youths needed to realise their potential and their involvement with SMEs and to participate in programmes that promoted small businesses.
“You cannot rely too much on formal employment,” she said.
“We all know that these days its ‘who you know’.
“The Government’s SME policy is the way forward for you to become your own boss and manage your own business.
“Whatever field a person is good at, start up your own SME and grow from there.”
Potane was commenting on the high number of university graduates that were unemployed and looking for jobs.
She said to start an SME, it does not need much requirements but a business plan or proposal.
“The degree or qualification an individual have is just a bonus to that person’s interest in applying for an SME loan,” he said
“As long as you have a business plan you already have what it takes to start up your own SME.
“There are opportunities out there when youths dig deeper and utilise their skills in whatever SME business they could get involve in.”
Potane said the more interest the SME policy garnered, the more support and funding the Government would put in.
She said Ewaa had been promoting SME in agriculture with the involvement of new graduates and unemployed youths to participate in agriculture.