Lagos State Government and Business Tampere have commenced discussions on how to explore cooperation with Finland and other Nordic countries to strengthen support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Mrs Adetutu Ososanya, FCA, received the Advisor, Business Tampere, Finland, Sami Puttonen at the Ministry recently.
Speaking at the meeting facilitated by AppleBlossom M.I Limited, Ososanya commended the organisation for showing interest in how to develop MSMEs on a short, medium and long term and possible resource planning for its success.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Mrs Adetutu Ososanya (6th right), Advisor, Business Tampere, Finland, Sami Puttonen (middle) and other guests when the delegation from Finland was at the Ministry at the recently: PHOTO: OMITOSIN JIDE CYPRIANO
Her words: “I want to express the Ministry’s willingness to take the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from their present level to the global level, by exposing them to foreign markets with the collaborative efforts of reputable partners. This can be achieved by having solid policies in place and implementing them as appropriate”.
“With the industrial hubs in the State undergoing restructuring, the Ministry is committed to ensuring that the MSMEs are updated with new business facilitation technology that will add value to their productions through capacity building”, she added.
Ososanya said it has become expedient for the Ministry to contribute to the growth and development of MSMEs by patronising and wearing made-in-Nigeria products as a way of supporting them.
In her contribution, the Director of Commerce in the Ministry, Mrs. Helen Adesina identified areas of assistance to the MSMEs, which include packaging, standardisation, business facilitation, capacity building, development of skills in communication, financial management, access to loans, handling and management of funds, machines to work with, succession plan to be put in place, IT infrastructure and energy support services that will boost MSME operations in Lagos.
L-R: Representative of Apple Blossom Limited, Mr. Olumide Osunniyi, Advisor, Business Tampere, Finland, Sami Puttonen, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Mrs Adetutu Ososanya and Director of Commerce in the Ministry, Mrs. Helen Adesina when delegation from Finland was on a visit to the ministry recently. PHOTO: OMITOSIN JIDE CYPRIANO
Earlier, the Advisor, Business Tampere, Finland, Sami Puttonen explained that the organisation has a partnership network to support businesses and give assistance to MSMEs who are financially incapacitated, while ensuring the creation of awareness for their businesses as well as upgrading their production to meet international standard.
“Setting up a website to advertise made-in-Nigeria products and give them the global recognition it deserves will be ideal. A comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be considered for the partnership”, he said.
In his remark, the representative of Apple Blossom Limited, Mr. Olumide Osunniyi, suggested that there will be a need for accurate data collection by the Ministry for the sake of the policy framework and the implementation of those policies.
