DIGITAL SMEs: MINPMEESA STRENGTHENS THEIR CAPACITIES
The workshop to upgrade the entrepreneurial skills of small and medium-sized enterprises in the technology and digital fields was held on 10 October 2022 at the Yaounde International Handicrafts Centre by the Minister of SMESEH, who was accompanied by UNDP and CAMTEL representatives, and the Chairperson of the professional enterprises network in the field of information and communication technologies.
The aim of this workshop is therefore to strengthen and upgrade the capacities of these enterprises in order to boost their competitiveness. It falls within the objectives set out in the National Development Strategy for the 2020-2030 period, one of its main pillars being the acceleration of growth through the promotion and development of nine (9) priority sectors, including digital.
At the opening, Mr Achille BASSILEKIN III emphasised on the need to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities of SMEs, which are constantly growing. This is a good opportunity to bring these digital SMEs together in order to review challenges they face and show them funding opportunities that exist, such as the 21-million-dollar agreement signed by MINEPAT and UNDP to support very small, small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to one participant, this meeting is an opportunity that will undoubtedly provide the necessary weapons to face the digital market. When the funding opportunity offered by the Government is added to this, its determination to make this a profitable sector permanently free from the Covid-19 pandemic, is clear.
This workshop is primarily aimed at entrepreneurs, project holders and start-ups in the targeted field. Participants are mainly trained on the legislative and regulatory framework of the entrepreneur and their community; on tools for steering a digital project; on factors of business success as well as on the successful attitude of an entrepreneur.
Following the expansion of digital-based services in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to support digital businesses to become more competitive is pressing. In addition to responding to a need expressed by the population through their project, entrepreneurs and start-ups should be equipped with the regulatory framework of their sector of activity, management, marketing strategy, innovative financing mechanisms and fund-raising procedures, among others. It is also important that projects developed by the latter are backed by the Sustainable Development Goals in order to make a meaningful contribution to community development.
It should be recalled that the analysis of the performance of enterprises in this sector reveals that various developed innovative projects have strong growth potential and generate added value.