Cameroon Tribune
Sunday, August 23, 2009
By Rosine NGATCHAM
A new vision for the regulation of small and medium enterprises is the subject of a study conducted by researchers at the Faculty of Economics, University of South Africa.
Promoting, supervising, and monitoring the activities of SMEs; establishing a database of small businesses; and migrating the informal sector were the main objectives of the seminar held last Thursday at the Hotel Azur (Bastos) of Yaoundé. It was chaired by Professor Olu Akinboade, director of the Faculty of Economics of the University of South Africa, accompanied by Emilie Kinfack, a research assistant of the university.
The project, funded by TrustAfrica with nearly US$50,000, will span 15 months. The work was designed over two months on the theme: “The impact of regulation on performance and growth of SMEs in Cameroon”. It was developed in two areas: the regulation and performance of small and medium enterprises and that of the institution of microfinance in Cameroon. In attendance at the seminar several SMEs and departments (Minépad, Afriland First Bank, Ministry of Commerce, FENAP: the National Federation of SME Associations of Cameroon, UNIDO …)
During his presentation, Olu Akinboade emphasized the positive impact of microfinance in Cameroon, recalling that 109 SME 157 met the regulations. Moreover, SMEs constitute 90% of African business and about 50% of employment and GDP in this country. The purpose of the seminar was “to make contact with different authorities, identify problems faced by SMEs, and present deficiencies,” said Emilie Kinfack.