ESTABLISHMENT BUSINESS SOLUTION AND INFORMATION CENTRES

The ministry of trade is in the process of establishing business solutions and information centers which are structures to be one stop shop integrated mix of business services for youth taking up self employment within the medium small enterprises (MSEs) throughout the country to catalyze employment creation and economic growth in rural areas.

The provincial director of trade in central province Mrs Teresia Muriuki said this while addressing traders and business persons who attended the Kiambu district traders workshop at the Kiambu community hall last week. She revealed that the centers will offer among others, the Services of Information System on Market, Investments and Technology, Identification of Potential Business opportunities and Profiling, Business skills and Entrepreneurship Development, Development of Incubation support for Micro and Small enterprises, Access to Financial Services, Technology research and Transfers, Development of Rural Markets and Linkages and Provisions of Business Service Facilities.

While explaining the intentions of the ministry in launching the idea, Mrs Muriuki asserted that these services will greatly enhance the livelihood of the youth and local communities as the centers will contribute to the stimulation and growth of micro and small enterprises in the area.

She said that in Kiambu and central at large many youths could be spotted idling around and lack of employment had resulted to many youths getting involved in criminal activities like joining Mungiki an illegal sect in the area. She added that the establishment could not have come at any better time than this as we approach the presidential elections. She stated that many youth would be financially empowered through this venture and this would reduce cases of voter bribery as the youth would be financially able and not to trade their democratic right of voting at the expense of cheap dirty money from politicians .

She continued to add that the ministry is also enhancing Investment Environment to attract Financing and offer incentives in the needed fields e.g technology and information and communication (ICT). By doing so she said it will encourage the competitiveness of SMEs, promote the establishment of support agencies including entrepreneurial centers, address the need to access training and education in. she gave the example of entrepreneurial competence and business management encourage financial institutions to provide appropriate and innovative financing instruments, promote innovation within the small enterprise.

The provincial director assured traders and aspiring entrepreneurs that the initiative will go along way in changing the mindsets of business people and transform them from a dependent to self-reliant entities.

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