FG to Develop SMEs in Metal Production
The Federal,Government has reiterated commitment to stimulate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Metals Sector to enhance their productivity garmane to economic growth.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu, stated this while declaring open a one-day Workshop organised by Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, for players in the Metals Sector in the South-South Geo-political Zone held in Port- Harcourt on Wednesday, 28th August, 2019.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by Director, ASM Department of the Ministry, Mr. Patrick Ojeka, said the workshop aimed at sensitizing and stimulating Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the metals sector with a view to improve their contributions to the nation ‘s GDP in line with Government’ focus on diversifying the economy.
According to him, the SMEs in the metals sector that are engaged in the manufacturing, fabrication, production and supply of spare parts, have been identified by the Ministry as the engine of growth and development of the nation’ economy hence the “need to further create awareness on the potentials and roles the SMEs are expected to play”
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He said the ministry has analyzed the major roles of SMEs in the metals sector and summarized the basic challenges, which comprised specialized equipment and funding, that the workshop is expected to address and to encourage entrepreneurs at the small and Medium scale levels to improve their capacities.
” This forum will also to stimulate the SMEs on the approach and requirements for accessing grants and loans for the SMEs clusters,” he said.
In a welcome address, Acting Director, Steel & Non- Ferrous Metals Department of the Ministry, Engr. Kolawole Olasupo, said the workshop is part of sensitization programme initiated by the Ministry in 2012 with the aim of creating awareness among the SMEs in the metals sector to improve their productivity.
“The exercise was to identify the metals sector SMEs in the selected states, inspect their operational processes and administer questionnaires to the operators to extract necessary information that would provide the ministry with the data base to enhance formulating favourable policies for the SMEs”.
The workshop with the theme: Workshop on Stimulation & Promotion of Activities of SMEs in the Metals Sector, drew players in small scale manufacturing, fabrication and production and supply in spare parts across the states in the South-South Zone.
Papers presented by resource persons include, ” The funding challenges of SMEs and Strategies to Access Funding in SMEs in the Metals Sector”; “Welding & Fabrication Technology with respect to SMEs in the Metals Sector”; ” The Roles of SMEDAN in strengthening Metals Sector SMEs for greater contribution to National GDP”, and “Imperatives of Industrial Shop Floor Safety and Best Practices”.
Timothy Akpoili
AD (Press)
For: Director (Press)
