NBSSI To Promote Businesses In 2012

Mr Lukman Abdul-Rahim, Executive Director of National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) on Wednesday said the Board in its policy measures would pursue strategies to help accomplish set goals in the 2012 Budget for Small Scale businesses. He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the 2012 Budget, aimed at developing a vibrant technology driven and competitive industrial sector that would significantly contribute to economic growth and employment creation. Mr Abdul-Rahim disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra. He explained that some of the NBSSI's major targets included assisting 500 Medium and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to access institutional credit, organising 1,500 tailor-made programmes for 45,000 entrepreneurs and establishing businesses in areas of competitive advantage in each district. “This year the Board is expected to assist 300 entrepreneurs to improve their product quality to meet international standards and assist 2,500 informal businesses to be incorporated into the formal sector by registering with the Registrar General's Department, keep financial records for decision making and pay their taxes.” In addition, it is expected to facilitate the establishment of 500 additional businesses and creation of 1,000 additional jobs. Mr Abdul-Rahim said the Board needed to provide qualitative and cost effective service to the MSEs sector, making business support services easily accessible to rural entrepreneurs, building managerial and technical capacity of MSE operators, product development and market access enhancement. He noted that the NBSSI needed a sector approach to develop and focus on activities in sectors where there were potentials for growth, employment generation and export potential with special emphasis on the Industrial Sector Support Programmes (ISSP). “The NBSSI would facilitate integration of the informal sector into the formal sector to ensure internal expanded markets, job creation, promote and enhance the integration of women in industry.” Mr Abdul-Rahim disclosed that a reliable directory on Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) would be developed and published through its 124 offices in the country. “I advise MSEs to strictly go by the laws of the State and make available whatever information is needed by the NBSSI to support their businesses to grow and promote job creation.”