Better Organising SMEs For Optimum Gain!

In effect, the 7th National Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Days which held in Yaounde on December 12-13, 2023 centred on, “The growth of SMEs and the promotion of value chains: Opportunities for implementing of the import-substitution policy.” To say the least, the rendezvous that brings together actors from across the country is an important platform for raising awareness, providing guidance and information and building their capacity. It is also an appropriate moment to create business contacts, consolidate contracts, subcontracts, and also to seek commercial and financial partnerships. Above all, it is an important networking opportunity that unites and as well brings actors of the country’s SMEs to the limelight. A rare occasion to celebrate Cameroon's SMEs described as the driving force behind the national economy and also to reflect on their sustainability.
Growth catalyst because government’s statistics show that the country’s economic fabric is made up of over 95 per cent of SMEs: 79.32 per cent are Very Small Enterprises, 19.43 per cent of Small Enterprises and 1.25 per cent of Medium Enterprises. Despite their fragility and high mortality rate, the SMEs however contribute to the creation of jobs and wealth. Enough reason to work towards ensuring their survival and fruition for the good of the actors and the national economy. The contrary would drive the curve of unemployment and poverty crazy.
Like in the previous editions, the 2023 National Days for SMEs served as a forum for deep reflection, information, exchange and training activities as well as for promotional and networking activities. These included conferences, workshops and training seminars; the village of SMEs opportunities; the Made in Cameroon fair; G to B and B to B meetings; and the registration of SMEs in the National SME Register. Salutary move that connects actors in the sector and possibly creates networks that can benefit them and society now and thereafter.
Organisers of the gathering hold that since inception in 2011 and in response to the recommendations made by stakeholders at the end of each National Days, the government has undertaken numerous reforms and developed various support instruments and structures to boost the sector. The creation of the National Agency for the Promotion of SMEs in 2013; the Bank for SMEs in 2015; the setting up of Business Creation Formality Centres in the country's 10 regional capitals; the online business creation platform: "mybusiness. cm", which has been operational since 2015; the Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange; the Business Upgrading Office; the Standards and Quality Agency; the Foreign Trade One-Stop Shop; the Investment Promotion Agency; and the national pilot incubator in Edea.
All of these are based on the idea that SMEs are a foundation on which the government intends to build in order to drive the country’s socio-economic development and sustainable growth. All must therefore be done to ensure that Cameroon’s SMEs become genuine industries capable of satisfying their own needs and those of the local population. In other words; putting them at levels where they can live and let others live. This is the sustainability!
Bringing them to share ideas like government has been doing through the organisation of National Days is certainly good. They can sell their ideas to others and learn from them as well. However, the networking that is absolutely needed to journey the country’s SMEs from artisanal to large-scale production capable of meeting local and international demand consists of interwoven factors that must be embraced wholly to attain desired results.
For instance, government can consider grouping SMEs dealing in particular products so as to better harness their potentials. The country should not beat its chest of having this or that number of SMEs that in effect are artisanal producers who cannot satisfy the needs of even a neighbourhood. Federating those who produce chips, cocoa beans and other derivatives, juice from diverse products and the rest can, for instance, instil division of labour whose fruit is quality and quantity production. This would be an added advantage in sources for financing, seeking better coaching and conquering the competitive national and international markets.
Angling the just-ended National Days for Cameroon’s SMEs on solving the demand/supply equation without necessarily resorting to imports, as has been the case, is no doubt a salutary decision. It is no news to anyone ...