THE informal sector kind of business has become so large in this country  that it becomes imperative for the Government to take serious stock and see how small businesses can be helped and encouraged.
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry,  must come out seriously and conduct a survey around the country and categorise small business enterprises to ensure that it monitors their growth and help them where it becomes necessary.
Small businesses are represented by diverse business ideas from individuals who, in the first place, want to improve their well-being and in doing so,  they are helping others who depend on them through being employed and contribute to the Government coffers through taxation.
We have not seen any serious Government project which has been embarked on to help small businesses to help them  become formidable and give account on successes on a large-scale that can be appreciated by the general public.
For example, the Government is very serious with projects of infrastructure development such as building of hospitals,  construction  of roads around the country in which millions of Kwacha have been pumped and results have been seen in this area.
But how much serious help is being offered to small businesses with a vision to help them cross the bridge of becoming big business conglomerates?
We know that we have institutions like Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and the Youth Empowerment Fund administered by the Ministry of Youth and Sport.
But can these organisations come out in the open and publicly showcase what they have done to help landscape  industrialisation in this country?
We have seen year by year money being dished out to the recipients of Government funds through these organisations, but what impact have we seen to believe what these organisations have caused to shake the industrialisation  process and landscape of this country?
I believe the technocrats are not  the right people to handle such huge Government projects because they have little hands-on experience as  theirs is to lend academic exercise as long as they are paid allowances and salaries.
I have seen small businesses that are very serious with what they are doing but lack technological and market support.
The giving out of financial support is not an end in itself but more needs  to be done to help small businesses shake themselves out and become conglomerates.
Small-scale farmers in rural areas, electronic repairers, furniture manufacturers, car spare part dealers, fridge and stove repairers, plumbers, builders, auto mechanic technicians, auto electrical  technicians and  tailors  among them, need a lot of help not only financially, but also the manner in which they should conduct their businesses.
Sometimes we can not compare ourselves with the Chinese who are deep thinkers going by the products that they produce.
But through handwork and full support from our Government we can achieve.
Look at the Nigerian film industry that is of their own making and are very serious at it.
A friend of mine had written a business  project proposal on the bee-keeping and handed it over to CEEC  as requested recently and the proposal was approved and   was given  K5,000 to carry out that project.
We have not seen the Government come out strongly to support the Small and Medium Enterprises in this country in a way that can be appreciated.
Can the case be rested by saying it has done its part to help  SMEs to be the engine to propel the economy of this country and help them to reach its optimum potential to achieve its economic independence?
Look at the exchange rate of the British pound to the Kwacha it is now  K11. Who had earlier thought that the Kwacha could sink so low to perform in that way?
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