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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://nkafu.org/
X-WR-CALNAME:Nkafu Policy Institute
X-WR-CALDESC:Catalyzing Africa’s Economic Transformation
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230803T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230804T170000
DTSTAMP:20230505T140400
UID:MEC-1a9c42f11a75f902dd961aa4fe2cfce1@nkafu.org
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PRIORITY:5
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:2023 SBEC Annual Forum
DESCRIPTION:Boosting the Competitiveness of SMEs to Accelerate Structural Transformation and Inclusive Development in Cameroon\nDate: August 3 & 4, 2023\nTime: 09:00 – 15:00 (GMT+1)\nVenue: Djeuga Palace Hotel – Yaoundé (Onsite Registration)\nZoom Online (Online Registration ( https://www.foretiafoundation.org/event/2023-sbec-annual-forum/# ))\n\nBackground\n\nIn the new National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (NDS30), Cameroon’s government expressed its desire to change the structure of the country’s economy in terms of value-added and employment. By defining the objective of increasing manufacturing production to 25% of GDP by 2030, the government has set itself the goal of shifting the production system from the primary sector (raw material exported) to a manufacturing sector, with high added value and massive job creation for all.\nAt the same time, the economy’s structural transformation depends on several factors. For instance, the government should take measures to increase the productivity of family farms in rural areas and strengthen the dynamics of the industrial sector, as well as develop production infrastructure. To achieve this, it plans to develop industries and services to facilitate Cameroon’s overall economic integration and accelerate imports/substitutions.\nIn addition, the government has set itself the mission of developing and increasing the productivity and competitiveness of agricultural products by focusing on a few products for which the country has a comparative advantage over other countries in the sub-region. These include rice, maize, cocoa/coffee, cotton, sugarcane, palm nuts, rubber, sorghum, cassava, potatoes, plantain, milk, honey, fish, meat, wood products and non-wood forest products sectors. The goal is to take advantage of regional and continental integration by boosting national markets, increasing trade and investment flows, and reducing infrastructure deficiencies.\nIn the course of this transformation process, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those led/run by women and youth, are recognized as key players, as they represent over 98 percent of the business population. Unfortunately, most of these SMEs remain trapped in the informal sector. Hence, the need to provide these production units with the necessary means, so that they can make a major contribution to the economic modernization that is needed.\nTo achieve the growth objectives set for 2030, the Cameroonian government and all other actors of the Cameroonian entrepreneurial ecosystem should succeed in unleashing the enormous potential of SMEs. This would enable them to manufacture competitive finished products to be put on the market, and to offer high value-added services, creating more growth and jobs.\nIt is in this perspective that the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center (SBEC) of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, is organizing an SME forum to gather input from stakeholders to boost the structural transformation of the Cameroonian economy with the financial support from the Rising Tide Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundation.\n\nObjectives of the Forum\n\nThe objective of this forum is to discuss with the different actors of the Cameroonian entrepreneurial ecosystem the levers to be implemented in the short term, to have a critical mass of enterprises “national champions” representing flagships or leaders in the key sectors of the Cameroonian economy. More specifically, it will be a matter of discussing urgent measures to be taken into account in order to:\n\nFoster the development and competitiveness of local SMEs.\nDevelop national value chains.\nFacilitate the access of Cameroonian SMEs to emerging or high potential markets.\nReinforce the protection of the national economic space.\nDevelop alternative financing mechanisms to bank financing.\nAdvocate for solid policy change to create a favorable environment for SMEs to formalize\n\n\nExpected outcome of the Event\n\nStakeholders are convinced of the need to significantly reduce the costs associated with business creation and development, particularly for women- and youth-led enterprises, to speed structural transformation and inclusive development in Cameroon.\n\nParticipants \n\nState representatives in Cameroon\n\nMinistry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts (MINPMEESA)\nMinistry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI)\nMinistry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education (MINJEC)\nMinistry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF)\nMinistry of Higher Education (MINESUP)\nMinistry of Commerce (MINCOMMERCE).\nMinistry of Labour and Social Security (MINTSS)\nMinistry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOF)\nMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER)\nInvestment Promotion Agency (API)\nAgency for the Promotion of SMEs (APME)\n\nOther stakeholders \n\nEntrepreneurs\nEmployer Organizations\nBusiness support organizations\nCapital providers\nProfessional associations;\nNGOs & CBOs;\nHigher institutions of learning – universities;\nVocational schools\nExperts;\nPublic personalities\nMedias\n\nContact\nEmail: info@foretiafoundation.org ( mailto:info@foretiafoundation.org ) / Tel: (+237) 654 86 72 54.\nOnline Registration\n
URL:https://nkafu.org/m-events/2023-sbec-annual-forum/
CATEGORIES:Event,Social Entrepreneurship
LOCATION:Yaoundé
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nkafu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SBEC-Forum-banner_Plan-de-travail-1.jpg
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