Finnish investor counsels Zambian SMEs

A FINNISH investors has urged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia to bolster operations through various innovations as they are the fulcrum of economic prosperity.

Innovative Minerals Analysers (IMA) Managing Director, Jukka Rantikainen, said that the backbone of Finnish economy and welfare was the SMEs and Zambia has potential to grow its economy through the same avenue.

Mr Rantikainen said SMEs have the potential to grow the economy of any country as they were able to generate taxes and create employment.

He was speaking during a building capacity seminar in Kitwe aimed at understanding the challenges of the SMEs in Zambia particularly the small-scale miners.

The seminar was also aimed at giving tips on requirements for sustained growth of SMEs.

Mr Rantikainen said SMEs were the biggest drivers of the economy and wealth creator of Finland and urged Zambia to pick a leaf from that country.

He noted that Zambia had many big companies and SMEs which could contribute to the growth of the economy especially if they were well-harnessed.

“Finland is very prosperous and business is good and economy is well run. SMEs are the most important part of the Finnish society,” he said.

At the same function, Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu said Government was aware that the country’s economic growth depended much on vibrant SMEs.

must take centre stage in growing the economy by tapping into the country’s mineral wealth via SMEs.

Mr Mpundu however observed that the biggest challenge for SMEs in the mining sector was lack of technology and capital.

He said Government was working towards removing all barriers so that SMEs flourished and provided the much-needed employment opportunities.

THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is this month set to undertake a trade mission to China meant to expose local producers to the Chinese market.

ZDA director, Enterprise Development, Mukula Makasa, said China had opened doors to Zambian products such as jewellery as well as agricultural products.

Mr Makasa said ZRA had engaged gemstone producers to add value to the precious stones.

Zambia, he said, had an amazing sector for jewellery which China was yarning for.

He said this in an interview in Lusaka.

“With this trade facilitation, we are trying to expose Zambian businesses enterprises to the Chinese market. That is a huge market which is untapped on the Zambian side.

“China decided to open up its doors to Zambian products and that includes minerals such as jewellery, base metals and value added products can now go to China. China looks forward to buying Zambian