Kanimba rallies support for rural businesses

Promoting rural micro enterprises will help support creation of new business; create off farm jobs and increase incomes for the rural poor, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba.Kanimba believes that promoting business advisory services especially in rural areas will increase micro enterprise needed to boost the private sector which the government banks on to lead the sector.He said this at the closure of a civic education training for Proximity Business Advisors (BROBA) who will be based at sector level and will have the mandate of equipping local entrepreneurs with basic skills such as book keeping among others.During the event that took place at the Leadership Centre in Nkumba, Burera district, the minister called for harmonized and shared understanding of the business advisory scheme as an unconventional move to pursue accelerated private sector growth.Kanimba promised that his ministry and its partners will continue to garner support for SME development and private sector growth in general.“And these services should be close and accessible to rural micro enterprises while responding to real needs in the rural business setting,” the Minister said.He expressed optimism that the trainees will be able to ignite an entrepreneurial culture in communities across the country mainly agro enterprises which directly increase rural incomes.“We will measure the success of the scheme by the number of SMEs that will be created, jobs, and new businesses and these have an impact if they are sustained,” he said.Business experts say there’s need to support local entrepreneurs have easier access to business services; training, business management and marketing skills, access to finance.According to the 2011 Establishment Census, 52.3% of SMEs are engaged in whole sale and trade and 27% are in accommodation and food services.

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Kanimba rallies support for rural businesses