Starters learn SME competitiveness mechanisms

Some 20 students from the University of Buea in the South West Region, Siantou Superieur, the Advanced School of Engineering, the African Institute of Computer Sciences, IAI-Cameroon, the Higher Training Institute of Telecommunications, Innovation, Technology, Trade and Management, IFTIC-SUP, all based in Yaounde, and the Advanced School of Science, Economy and Trade of the University of Douala, ESSEC are undergoing training in Yaounde.

The students who at the same time are starters of Small and Medium-size Entreprises are beneficiaries of the first series of trainings offered by the Small and Medium-size Enterprises Promotion Agency.

The training aims at positioning SMEs fast growth, increased transparency and efficiency as response to the exigencies of accessing funding and creating more direct jobs in the sector. The opening ceremony at the Advanced School of Engineering yesterday September 7, 2015 was chaired by the Director General of the Small and Medium-size Enterprises Promotion Agency, Jean Marie Louis Badga.

He announced the institution’s plans to train 10,000 SME promoters in the next five years. The training is part of the agency’s commitment to modernise the sector by stimulating innovation, facilitating the development of competence, increasing transparency and efficiency with focus on positioning them on the growth pedal. “We want to give SMEs that credibility, reliability and visibility that is required by banks as prerequisite for loans,” Jean Marie Louis Badga said.

The agency’s commitment is to follow up and modernise the sector, which to its Director General is only doable through proper training. In the company of the Resident Representative of IAI-Cameroon, Armand Claude Abanda, Jean Marie Louis Badga challenged the pioneers to shine in the training. “Take advantage of the opportunity,” he invited the trainees.

For two weeks, the students will learn best practices in Micrsoft dynamics which harps on accountancy and operation softwares. The Representative of Microsoft at the ceremony, Carine Djomo, said experts will be disseminating knowledge on customer relations management systems that are used by companies for efficient management. The learners will also be trained on how to use e-commerce websites to improve visibility.