From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Clinics for Viable Enterprises (MSME Clinics) recently launched by the Federal Government have kicked off nationwide.
The programme is designed to bring about significant and sustainable GDP growth, employment generation and increase in local productivity, thereby reducing import bills on food and essential products that can be produced locally.
It is also expected to realign the role of government ministries, departments and agencies as facilitators of business as well as bring about increase in foreign exchange earnings through export. The clinics would address the plethora of challenges affecting the growth and productivity of MSMEs in Nigeria.
The initiative features a series of workshop to be held in every state, where lectures would be delivered and all participating government MDAs will be on hand to solve problems, take enquiries, explain government initiatives, and enlighten the public on policy and regulatory issues affecting MSMEs in Nigeria.
According to a release, “The principal objectives of the programme are to create a platform for stake-holders and businesses to discuss issues affecting set-up and operations of MSMEs in the country; create a platform where government and other stakeholders can share and provide information of all the policies, programmes and initiatives currently existing in the country for encouraging MSMEs.”