By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbl
In a landmark move to bolster the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kebbi State, the Kebbi State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA) and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic partnership aims to establish a framework for cooperation and collaboration, leveraging expertise and experience to create an MSME tracking system.
The agreement, signed at KIPA's headquarters on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi, emphasizes tracking, filtering, and managing Business Management Organisations (BMOs), as well as grading entrepreneurs based on key Performance Metrics (KPM). Dr. Muhammad Kabir Kamba, Director General of KIPA, hailed the collaboration as "strategically significant and beneficial" to SMEs in the state, particularly given SMEDAN's national recognition.
"This partnership will enhance our capacity to facilitate SME development," Dr. Kamba said. "We'll work together to actualize SMEDAN's mandate in Kebbi State, achieving our mission and contributing to economic prosperity." Alhaji Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Kebbi State Coordinator of SMEDAN, noted that this MoU marks the first agreement between SMEDAN and a state government agency in eleven years.
Barrister Zainab M. Jabbo, Legal Adviser to KIPA, outlined the MoU's obligations, including:
-Establishing an MSME Council: KIPA and SMEDAN will fast-track the council's inauguration, with SMEDAN as Secretariat.
-MSME Data Bank: Creating a database for proper networking and tracking MSME activities.
- Facilitation Sessions: SMEDAN will conduct sessions to support MSMEs in the state.
-Managerial Capacity Building: Enhancing the capacity of BMOs and EMOs to foster entrepreneurial development. Etc
This groundbreaking partnership is poised to drive economic growth and development in Kebbi State, making it an attractive destination for investors . With KIPA's commitment to showcasing Kebbi's competitive advantages and SMEDAN's expertise in SME development, MSMEs in the state can expect a significant boost
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