Counties asked to partner with universities to develop priority value chains

The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Susan Mang’eni, has urged county governments and academia to collaborate in developing identified priority value chains and supporting MSMEs through supportive policies, streamlined licensing, and infrastructure development.

The Principal Secretary made these remarks during the 2nd Edition of the MSME Connect Expo and dialogue, hosted at Embu University, which gathered MSMEs from Embu and neighbouring counties, along with the private sector, the Government, policymakers, and academia.

The MSMEs Connect platform aims to strengthen policies, regulations, and legal frameworks that support MSMEs, implement targeted interventions for MSME development, enhance financial inclusion and market access through supply chain integration, improve the productivity and competitiveness of small enterprises, and promote partnerships and networking within the MSME ecosystem.

MSMEs Connect is a significant step in the government’s efforts to strengthen the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector, recognizing the critical role of MSMEs in Kenya’s economic transformation and enhancing economic participation at the grassroots level by addressing key challenges faced by MSMEs.

The principal secretary outlined various measures by the government in support of MSMEs, including the Kenya Industrial Estate, the UWEZO Fund, and the Hustler Fund. Additionally, she highlighted ongoing regulatory reforms to decriminalise informal work and recognise MSMEs as key contributors to economic growth.