Mbabane – Fincorp has opened its doors to a senior delegation from the World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises during a visit aimed at boosting Eswatini’s micro and small business sector. The mission, held this week in Mbabane, brought together government officials, financial institutions and enterprise development partners to explore new ways of supporting local entrepreneurs.
The WASME team was led by Director General Vijay Kumar and Director for Planning and Development Archana Sharma. Their engagements centred on a proposal to help accelerate national MSME development through stronger institutional support and modernised enterprise structures.
Fincorp Group Managing Director and WASME Vice President Dumisani J. Msibi said the country’s entrepreneurs needed more structured guidance to thrive. He called for the establishment of business development centres, incubation spaces and mentorship programmes as part of a wider effort to build genuine capacity among MSMEs. He noted that such initiatives could contribute to reducing unemployment, improving economic activity and tackling rising poverty levels.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade through SME Director Mluleki Dlamini said the sector could no longer rely on retail driven enterprises. He explained that nearly half of local MSMEs still operate in retail and that the country must begin shifting towards manufacturing and value addition if it is to create sustainable growth. He added that updated infrastructure and financing models were essential, pointing to the need for mid sized factory shells, digital platforms and improved management systems.
WASME’s proposal presented several priority areas including the creation of MSME development excellence centres, cluster development programmes, skills training, innovation, digital transformation and support for rural enterprises and women artisans. It also outlined expanded financing options, improved infrastructure and a coordinated public private special purpose vehicle to drive implementation.
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