UNIDO Strengthens Capacity of Cross-section of Small Agro Businesses for Sustainability - FrontPageAfrica

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The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has concluded a four-day impactful training for 195 Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinics in Ganta and Monrovia.

The training was held from September 24-28, 2024 in the two counties with 84 of the participants being females.

UNIDO is implementing the GROW-2 technical cooperation project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Liberia.

This project aims to increase income and employment opportunities by developing MSMEs in key agro-based value chains in Liberia. GROW-2 support covers interventions aimed at fostering production, processing, value addition, and market access.

Speaking at the opening of the sessions, Dr. Charles Kwame Sackey, Chief Technical Advisor of the Division of SME Competitiveness stressed the importance of the clinic and its usefulness for the MSMEs.

“The MSMEs clinic was designed to bring various experts who otherwise are not easily accessible to a ‘’one-stop shop’’ where MSMEs had the opportunity to ask questions that hinder their productivity and competitiveness, said Dr. Sackey, the MSME Clinic aimed to provide tailored support and expert guidance to business owners and entrepreneurs across various MSMEs who attended.”

Dr. Sackey explained that it served as a platform for MSMEs to access advisory services focused on key areas such as financial management, social media branding, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance (quality, tax) among others.

For his part, Mr. Jekeh Forkpah Koiyan Assistant Minister for Small Business Administration Ministry of Commerce & Industry said the event was beneficial and enabled the Ministry to connect with various MSMEs to address their concerns about challenges confronting them.

Minister Koiyan emphasized, “This is in line with the government’s agenda to support MSMEs in Liberia to be competitive.

The Minister on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce extolled GROW-2 Liberia funded by the Embassy of Sweden and implemented by UNIDO.

Also remarking Mawehn Koenig, a chocolate processor in Monrovia noted that the program was a good initiative and provided invaluable insights for business owners and addressed critical areas that are essential for the growth and sustainability of MSMEs.

Koenig believes it will have a lasting positive impact on Liberia’s agri-business community.

The meeting brought together key government entities the Ministry of Commerce (MoCI), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Liberia Standards Authority (LiSA), experts, Business Development Specialists, made in Liberia, and lending institutions including Ecobank and Bloom Bank.