Published: 28 August 2013

Zimbabwe will soon open a modern skills development centre - the incubation centre - in partnership with India to assist small to medium enterprises throughout the country with various entrepreneurial skills, a government official has said.

Outgoing Small and Medium Enterprises minister Sithembiso Nyoni said the incubation centre will train 27 SMEs in business skills which include manufacturing toilet paper, drinking juices, roofing material and office material.

She said Indian investors will provide equipment and expertise to the new entrepreneurs.

Nyoni said SMEs remain marginalised yet they account for $7 billion which is estimated to circulating outside the formal banking system.

The sector according to a government survey released early this year, employs 3.8 million people.

Nyoni said the SMEs Act was already in place and has gone to Parliament, what is left was for the public to know more about the Act through the media.

Nyoni said funding continues to be a major challenge to the sector.
- newsday

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