Governor Jack Ranguma says small businesses key to growth

By RUSHDIE OUDIA and ERIC ABUGA

Kisumu, KENYA: Kisumu County Government is now targeting micro and small enterprises (MSE) as a way of spurring the region’s economic development.

Governor Jack Ranguma says MSEs are important for regional and national growth with equity and inclusion.

He says the MSEs’ growth and development is the first logical step towards offering a home-made and sustainable solution to the unemployment and poverty situation in the county.

 REVIVE INDUSTRIES

“With a well-fed population comes a vibrant and dedicated work force as well as a secure environment for commerce,” said Ranguma.

He is now encouraging both residents and investors to look at the opportunities in the sector. This includes new value chain proposals on farming, seed development, processing and value addition, packaging and marketing of agricultural products.

Ranguma says as the county strives to revive major industries such as Kisumu Cotton Mills (Kicomi), East Africa Breweries and sugar industries, more effort will be put in budding micro enterprises.

He says so far, the county’s Ministry of Enterprise Development has made contact with operators in the fish, skin tanning, candle production, perfume extraction and paint production industries.

Ranguma says Kisumu’s educated and young workforce, its abundant natural resources and its strategic location around Lake Victoria offer considerable potential to further develop small businesses.

He however, appeals for an enabling legal framework for the establishment and operation of small businesses, an application based procedure for business registration and a simplified tax code.

The county is set to launch Saccos to help grow small economies and build a community policing system to secure businesses and homes.

MSEs have been accepted as the engine of economic growth and for promoting equitable development. They constitute over 90 per cent of total enterprises in most of the economies.

They are credited with generating the highest rates of employment growth and account for a major share of industrial production and exports.

The governor spoke during the closure of the four-day inaugural Easter Trade Fair where participants from Kisumu, other counties and neighbouring East African countries showcased their unique products in the market.

The exhibition was organised by the county’s Ministry of Industrialisation, enterprise development and transport as well as the micro and small enterprise authority.

Meanwhile, higher learning institutions have been urged to roll out foreign language programmes to give students a better chance in the job market.

 CHINESE LANGUAGE

Kisii University Vice Chancellor John Akama says education should be used to make imprints in the region with an eye at growing trade and investment.

Speaking after 20 students from the university graduated with a certificate in elemental Chinese language, Prof Akama said the university would waive payment for beginners enrolling in Chinese language and culture courses.

He urged the community around the university and Kenyans at large to take advantage of the opportunity.

“With globalisation, it is prudent for countries to learn the language of others in order to promote communication, understanding, economic growth and open avenues for job opportunities,” said Prof Akama.

A number of universities in Kenya have included foreign languages such as French, German and Chinese in their curricula as pressure mounts on them to offer courses that are in tandem with market needs and as they seek to expand their student registers.

“The introduction of Chinese classes in our university has attracted a considerable number of students both from the self-sponsored and regular programmes and soon we will be forced to offer a four-year degree course at the university,” he said.

China has been working to penetrate nations where language is a barrier to commerce.