SMEs get Govt windfall

Prince Mushawevato in VICTORIA FALLS
Government came to the rescue of small and medium scale enterprises exhibiting alongside the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly after realising delegates were hard pressed for time to tour their stands and buy.Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet and Chairman of the Working Party of the UNWTO Inter-ministerial Committee, Colonel Christian Katsande (Rtd), said Government bought US$115 000 worth of the artefacts exhibited by the SMEs, in a move aimed at providing the group with business and help ease heir operational costs.

“The UNWTO general assembly programme was so intense to the extent that delegates did not have adequate time to tour and possibly purchase items being showcased by our SMEs. This necessitated the intervention of Government to procure some items from the exhibition to be given to the delegates as gifts,” he said.

The move, Col Katsande said, was part of Government’s efforts to support development of the SMEs in the country.
He said the Zanu-PF manifesto had clear cut policies on support for the sector, which is one of the key pillars of the economy.

“This is in line with Government policy to support and promote SMEs to grow as enunciated in the Zanu-PF Manifesto,” he said.
Besides a number of sessions that were lined up for the general assembly, the delegates were also expected to undertake technical and social tours around the country.