Rapporteur Report
Plenary Session 2
1.0
Title
of Discussion
Capacity Building and
Training Programmes to Enhance Competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises
2.0
Presenter
Dr. Jonathan H.Chileshe
3.0
Moderator
Dr. Mohammad Solaiman
4.0
Rapporteurs
1)
Muhammad Saifullah
DP Hj Mustajab
2)
Hjh
Rose Hj Karim
5.0
Presentation
and Discussion
5.1
Abstract/Overview
The success of Large Scale and
SMEs companies depending on the nature of business environment the companies
operate. What more important is that business activities should help in
minimising the main problem of a country that are unemployment and poverty. The
current economic imbalance is the heritage of the colonial ear where formal
sector and large-scale enterprises were reserved for indigenous population.
However, in realities SMEs are also found in informal sectors and in fact for
some countries like Zambia, informal sectors provides more employment than the
formal sector. SMEs provides a good training ground for the transition from
SMEs Entrepreneurs to Large-Scale business leaders subject to the availability
of the right distribution of capacity building and training programmes within
formal and informal sectors. The author stressed on the importance of
identifying the needs within both formal and informal sectors to provide
opportunity to gain access to capacity building and training programmes. The
idea of ‘SMEs as business incubators’ focused to develop indigenous
entrepreneurs to be resilient to face the competitive environment and taking
advantage of changes in the exclusivity of non-indigenous due to privatisation
policy. Therefore, among other issues discussed by the author is the Economic problems that imposed threat in the success
of capacity and training apart from poverty reduction and effort to diversify
from highly dependent on mineral production and other existing products.
5.2 Main Points and Issues Discussed
5.2.1
The
impact of colonial era in the business environment.
5.2.2
The
existence of both formal and informal sectors.
5.2.3
The
reality of employment opportunity in the informal sectors.
5.2.4
The
needs to balance the access opportunity to capacity building and training
programmes.
5.2.5
The gap
in the relationship between SMEs and large-Scale Corporation.
5.2.6
The
needs to diversify from existing economic dependency.
5.2.7
The
issues of economic problem that can be the main obstacle in the development of
a country.
6.0
Suggestions
and Conclusions
6.0.1 The government must be involved
in creating an enabling environment for the formal or informal sector to
enhance entrepreneurial activities.
6.0.2
The Government jointly with the
private sectors must identify, select and prioritise industries that are
relevant and viable particularly for the purpose of minimising unemployment and
poverty such as Small Mining and Out Growers scheme in Agriculture.
6.0.3
More institutions for
6.0.4
A more appropriate method of
capacity building and training programmes must be identified to ensure the
success of enabling environment in the formal and informal sectors.