The Private Sector Federation (PSF) will train both local and regional entrepreneurs in negotiation skills next month. According to Eugene Rutabagaya, the Employment and Labour Relations Manager at PSF, the training aims at improving ‘negotiations skills’ in regard to labour and employment issues for both the federation and the employers. The programme is fully funded by the Dutch employer’s cooperation programme for all participants. The capacity building training will draw participants from the East African Community (EAC) countries besides Burundi. According to information from PSF, Rwanda as a host countyr will send sixteen participants while other countries will all send three participants each. This training comes to support PSF’s four-year private sector capacity building project, which is donor funded by Africa Development Bank (AFDB), and government among others. “This project empowers small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with knowledge and skills to operate effectively and efficiency,” Rutabagaya explained. The federation’s four-year capacity building project has already trained 30 entrepreneurs this year. The training is also aimed at helping the local entrepreneurs to understand the demands of their business and how to become more competitive and productive. Since Rwanda’s informal sector comprises of about 85 percent of the entire private sector, Rutabagaya said that there can be considerable development if the informal sector is empowered with necessary skills and knowledge. Ends
