Back SMEs to compete in EA markets, Sido officers urged

By Felix Andrew

Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO)

The Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) has directed its business development officers to support local entrepreneurs so as to produce goods that will compete in East African markets and beyond.

The directive was issued on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam by the newly appointed Sido Director General Eng Omari Bakari when closing a two week training on food processing and entrepreneurship skills which was provided by his organisation.


He said business development officers have a major task to ensure that small entrepreneurs contribute to the development of the economy.

“I urge you graduating entrepreneurs to keep in contact with SIDO in whatever you do so that you become big taxpayers or employers,” he said.

He advised them to use modern technology in producing goods so as to boost their income.

He also asked food processors and entrepreneurs to have a systematic way of carrying out their operations besides respecting work contracts.
He said the practice would enable them to increase their income and jack up employment creation.

He urged entrepreneurs to establish their own factories in a short period of time so as to fight poverty and unemployment.
Eng Bakari promised to invite all graduates to the meeting next year so as to explain what they will have done in establishing small industries.

Speaking on behalf of entrepreneurs, Joseph Kaphipa urged the management of Sido to reduce the training fee particularly for people with disabilities and students.

“We know that our friends do not have big incomes, time has come to look at the possibility of minimising the fee so as to allow more people to undergo training,” he said.

While commending Sido on the training, he called on the organisation to increase the frequency and length of the training sessions.

“We urge you to have more sessions. It will help us to learn more and work better,” said the successful entrepreneur who went on to call on Sido to work with the government towards creating easier loan packages for entrepreneurs.

He listed the other challenges as lack of capital, saying many women entrepreneurs fail to get loans from banking institutions because they do not have collateral.

“Most financial institutions are not so friendly to us when we look for loans. You should find other means of supporting us in order to grow,” he said.

Kaphipa also recommended Sido to issue them with less interest loans, and increase the loan amount to between 10m/- and 15m/- .
The two-week training which started last month attracted 32 entrepreneurs from Dar es Salaam Region and the nearby areas. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN