German Agency-GIZ Supports private Sector-led Advocacy on Business Environment Constraints for MSMEs in Edo

To improve the income situation of Medium and Small-scale Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) in Edo State, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit -GIZ is currently implementing the Pro-Poor Growth and Promotion of Employment- SEDIN Programme. 
The programme is aimed at improving access to finance and business services, strengthen entrepreneurial and managerial skills, and address key barriers in the business and investment environment.
To achieve the desired outcome, GIZ–SEDIN is supporting the efforts of the organised private sector in Edo State to advocate for policies and initiatives that improve the business enabling environment for MSMEs in the state. 
In addition, GIZ-SEDIN is supporting the Edo State Government and the private sector in the stakeholders’ for MSMEs in Edogoal to engage another formally and periodically. 
This goal, Edo State Coordinator and Policy Advisor of GIZ, Ms Blessing Oluwatosin Ajomoti, said informs the decision of the partners to hold Public-Private Dialogues (PPDs) on the constraints that are being faced by MSMEs. 
These priority constraints, Ajomoti noted in a key note address in Benin City, Tuesday on Public-Private Dialogue on Access to Finance, and Access to Markets, include access to market, access to finance, the need for support for more local content, improved taxation and access to power/energy.
“These priority areas were identified during a Priority Policy Area Selection Workshop held by the organised private sector in Edo State in March 2022. The recommendations identified during the PPDs will be documented for the public sector’s implementation. 
“The implementation of the recommendations will also be tracked and the public sector will report on progress recorded at the next engagement between the Edo State Government and the organised private sector.1. Project Inception Meeting (2nd March 2022),”, she said.
At the end of the programme, participants and stakeholders at the meeting agreed that for MSME’s to function properly with the aims and objectives setting them achieved, Edo Government through its agencies should work with producers cooperative/consortiums to facilitate the formation of new ones to promote, share technical and managerial resources.
They also suggested improvement capacity of MSMEs to access finance through business support services across sectors, reviewing loan required collateral or guarrantors which may not be available for business owners especially at early stage entrepreneurs.
Another recommendation is the access to farm inputs through special agricultural schemes that would boost agro-based activities and improved value.