INTRODUCTION

The mission for the small and micro enterprise (SME) sector is the establishment of 5,000 new small and micro enterprises per annum, the enhancement of their success/survival ratio and the stimulation of entrepreneurship within the country.

The policy for the sector reflects the need for:

1. an intergrated and comprehensive approach to small and micro enterprise development and development of entrepreneurship;
2. a comprehensive framework and strategy for implementation;
3. leadership and co-ordination by the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development;
4. linkage, co-ordination and intergration of the efforts of several Ministries and agencies in relation to policy implementation.

The Enterprise Development Division is charged with the following responsibilities:

• To develop policy and co-ordinate its implementation and make necessary intervention with the approval of the Minister to ensure that policy implementation is on course;
• To provide advice and consultation to the Minister with regard to the different arms of the institutional structure;
• To manage inter-institutional and inter-agency relationships;
• To perform a supervisory role on behalf of the Minister by receiving and reviewing reports;
• To monitor the performance of the small and micro enterprise (SME) sector, the National Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO), the Small and Micro Enterprise Development Fund, the Small Enterprising Businesses Assocation or any other organization receiving Government subventions for SME development;
• To address and resolve the following issues with the assistance and collaboration of NEDCO:
  • availability and access to sources of funding
  • intergration of support programmes and services
  • proliferation of agencies and the need for collaboration, co-ordination and/or rationalization among micro and small business assistance agencies
  • development, stramlining and synchronization of policies, legislation and regulations that impact on the SME sector;