About twenty small-and-medium enterprises engaged in manufacturing and agro-processing will this month get hands-on training to improve performance."The support will start with analysis by a consultancy firm to assess the selected companies’ business operations to identify issues that constrain growth, and their opportunities for expansion,” said Robert Muhizi, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) manufacturing development division manager.RDB has already contracted international consultancy firm Ernst & Young to handle the project.Only registered companies that have over 10 employees qualify for the programme that starts on May 10. They should also be willing to cost-share some of the expenses."We encourage companies in the manufacturing and agro-processing sectors, which want to build successful businesses to apply,” said Eusebe Muhikira, the head of the trade and manufacturing department at RDB.He said the support would be provided in two phases. "The companies and Ernst & Young consultants will, together, conduct a structured assessment of the firms’ current performance to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats."This will help to identify challenges and opportunities that may impact the companies’ ability to grow,” he said.Muhikira added that an action plan would be agreed for implementation, based on the results of the analysis. This may include work on business and marketing strategies, new product development, standards and quality issues. Others are finance and pricing strategies and manufacturing efficiency upgrades among other options to be considered. He said the initial assessment and action plan will be funded by the Rwanda Development Board. The development board and participating companies will co-share the cost of implementing the plans.