Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
CBC Chief Executive Officer Sandra Uwera
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has called on the private sector in the region to link locally owned enterprises to the supply chain of corporate companies.
Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between COMESA Business Council (CBC) and Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka today, CBC Chief Executive Officer Sandra Uwera says this must be done by addressing the various constraints of the SMEs, such as quality and standard requirements limitations, market access barriers, rigid procurement processes in order to ensure a more sustainable opening for SMEs to work with corporate industries.
Ms. Uwera states that the level of intra-trade growth in the COMESA region over the past two years clearly indicates that the private sector has begun to take advantage of the opportunities before them and grow the region to new heights.
She explains that the MoU is aimed at improving the quality and standards of food suppliers and other value chain actors in the hospitality industry among other sectors, so that they are able to efficiently perform and create sustainable partnerships with the hospitality industry.
And TAJ Pamodzi Hotel General Manager Sanjay Sood says the MOU seeks to strengthen the development of SME’s in the Agro sector to be able to meet the rising demand for quality Agro products, thus guaranteeing them greater market access.
He notes that SMEs have continued to face numerous challenges in meeting expected standard requirements hence the Partnership will help them participate actively in national and value chain.