Rwanda: IFC Trains Tourism SMEs On Business Plans
Doing business without a business plan is like building a house without an architectural plan," Faustin Mbundu , vice chairman of the Private Sector Federation (PSF). Twenty business owners and managers of hotels, restaurants, tours and travel agencies under the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment have completed a training course on how to write business plans. The programme organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, was geared towards creating linkages between the SME players in the Tourism sector, with other support institutions. The training, which was conducted using IFCs own SME toolkit, was delivered in partnership with Maxinet Group Ltd- the managing partner of the SME toolkit in Rwanda and KPS Associates, an IFC-certified training partner of the SME toolkit."
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911170064.html
Rwanda: 70 Percent of SMEs Don't Last a Year - PSF
Of the 10 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that start every year in Rwanda, seven don't live to celebrate their first anniversary, the Private Sector Federation [PSF] has revealed. Lack of strategy was the biggest cause for this short life of SMEs and the trend has been observed over time.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911090083.html
China: Commercial Banks finds SME banking lucrative
The banking service for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is gradually becoming a new profit source of Chinese commercial banks. By the end of this September, the renminbi outstanding loans for SMEs surged 28% from the beginning of this year, according to China Banking Regulatory Commission and People's Bank of China. China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC, 601398.SH, 1398.HK) and China Minsheng Banking Corp. (Minsheng Bank, 600016.SH) have all provided stronger support to those SME customers.
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2640124/
Fair empowers students through entrepreneurship
OVER a thousand youths got the chance to hone their entrepreneurial skills through the Globe's entrepreneurship fair for students in the Bicol region.Spearheaded by Globe’s corporate social responsibility arm Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom), in partnership with Aquinas University of Legaspi, the Globe BridgeCom youth entrepreneurship fair gave students a chance to gain more knowledge and skills in running a successful business. As of this year, over 24,000 micro-entrepreneurs, business management students, coop members, microentrepreneurs and community leaders all over the country have already benefited from Globe BridgeCom’s Enterprise Development Program.During the fair, business management students from Aquinas University, Divine Word College, Bicol University, Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc., Camarines Norte State College and members of the Bicol Business Students Association were treated to a day of learning, networking and exchanging of ideas and inspiration.
APEC SME Summit: SMEs to focus on green technology for sustainable growth
Industry players said SMEs should get busy with emerging sectors like green technology for more sustainable growth. Ashish Chatterjee, director of corporate R&D, Procter & Gamble Company, India, said: "SMEs who are investing in green technologies would have probably a very good leverage on what's going to happen in the future with businesses large and small." With the global economy seemingly out of the woods, industry players said the business outlook for small and medium enterprises looks relatively bright next year. Speaking at the APEC SME Summit, the business community said it is time for SMEs to invest, innovate and gear up for the upturn.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1017764/1/.html
Australia: Low awareness among SMEs on how to go green
A recent survey by KPMG and the Ai Group found that only 15 per cent of Australian companies understand what the emissions trading scheme involves, and 25 per cent of respondents say they have no plans to measure their carbon footprint until it becomes law in 2011.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/clevel/the-cost-of-going-green-20091111-i9p4.html
Malta: Range of incentives for SMEs, self-employed
The government has announced the creation of a €10 million fund to help small industries and the self-employed through micro credit. There were also other fiscal benefits to motivate enterprises to invest, expand and increase their efficiency. A 40 percent tax credit, up to a maximum of €25,000 euro, to those self‐employed persons and enterprises who employ up to a maximum of 10 persons, and sole traders, who shall make an investment in the coming two years, and who shall: arrange their shop or facility; invest in machinery, technology, apparatus or instruments which enhance their operations, including systems which help them save energy or to produce alternative energy; make an investment in order to become compliant with health, safety, environment and physical access regulations; create new jobs or recruit apprentices as from tomorrow.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091109/budget/range-of-incentives-for-smes-self-employed
Jamaica: SMEs poised to lead global economies out of recession
CHIEF Executive Officer of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Helen Brand, says Small and Medium Sized- Enterprises (SMEs) are poised to lead global economies out of the recession, but says governments, banks and regulators must provide the supporting framework. SMEs are having a very difficult time, but, despite this, a number are experiencing growth... governments, regulators, banks will have to do the right thing to support SMEs in steering us out of the recession."She, however, cautioned governments to proceed with caution."We are urging governments not to take too much of an interventionist, nationalist approach, but to create the framework where SMEs can flourish, and that really means recognising that SMEs have a different employment base, and creating that kind of permissive environment for them to flourish, " Brand told the Observer during a recent interview.
Korea: SMEs under growing potential distress
Korea's economy is bouncing back, but small- and medium-sized enterprises are finding the going getting tougher. While the dual rise in the local currency and prices of raw materials squeeze their profits, officials at financial authorities said yesterday that emergency programs taken to protect the SME sector amid a sharp economic downturn last year may phase out. "The distress in the SME sector was not materialized in the latest economic turmoil as the government and banks took aggressive measures to aid small businesses," said Lee Byung-yoon, a researcher at the Korea Institute of Finance.
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/11/18/200911180019.asp
SMEs not seeing benefits of green stimulus
Europe's stimulus plan has been slow to help small businesses in the green tech sector, according to Eurochambres, the umbrella group for chambers of commerce in the EU. Ben Butters, director of European affairs at Eurochambres, said small and medium-sized business (SMEs) need clear signals from policymakers in order to spark innovation in the European economy. "Green elements of the stimulus packages have not yet trickled down to SMEs," he said, adding that small firms can become an effective way of bringing new green technologies to market. "Innovative small businesses are the pioneers when it comes to green technology. They could do a lot more if the infrastructure was in place," says Butters.
New listing norms unveiled for small, medium companies
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the country's markets watchdog on Monday notified new norms for listing and raising of funds by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) but ruled out a new stock exchange for such entities. The minimum market capitalisation for follow-on public issues by large companies also stands reduced to Rs.5,000 crore, against Rs.10,000 crore earlier, said SEBI chairman C.B. Bhave after a meeting of the watchdog's board. "The SME platform can come on existing exchanges," Bhave told a press conference, ruling out separate exchanges for small and medium-sized companies as demanded by a section of the investing community. "The minimum trading under the SME platform will be Rs.100,000," he said, adding Rs.25 crore would be the maximum capital permissible to be raised under the SME platform. "If the paid-up capital is more than Rs.25 crore, trading will be on the main platform."
http://www.samaylive.com/news/new-listing-norms-unveiled-for-small-medium-companies/666742.html
UK: Four in Ten SME'S seeing signs of Economic Recovery
Over four in ten SME owners (42%) report seeing some signs of economic recovery, with a further 1% saying that these signs are strong, according to new research from uSwitchforBusiness.com
•Greenshoots: 42% of SMEs are seeing some signs of economic recovery - but only 1% say the signs are strong
•Recovery time: 27% of SME owners predict six months to a year for their business to recover from the recession, but 26% say it will take more than a year to get back on their feet again
•Growing confidence: 81% of SMEs think they will survive the recession - a 5% increase since February this year
•Trading conditions: 58% still finding it tough, but a small increase in the number now saying that the current trading environment is OK
•Recession headache: cutting costs remains the biggest issue for SMES, but cashflow concerns now taking over from worries about falling demand.
Over four in ten SME owners (42%) report seeing some signs of economic recovery, with a further 1% saying that these signs are strong, according to new research from uSwitchforBusiness.com. And while the Government has been forced to acknowledge that Britain is still in a recession that is likely to be longer and deeper than originally feared, the findings reveal a small increase in the number of small businesses confident that they will survive. 81% now think that they will get through the downturn, compared with 76% in the first quarter of this year.
http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/press-releases/247/124069.html
Tax on SMEs will prolong recession
The Chancellor is being urged not to increase taxes on small businesses in his pre-budget report.Increasing taxation on the country’s small businesses would plunge the economy further into debt and cause spiralling unemployment, according to a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).The CEBR report found that if the government raised the rate of corporation tax from 21 per cent to 26 per cent it would cause 100,000 jobs to be lost from the small business sector and reduce economic output by £4.3 billion.
Small and medium enterprises to get financial support
Small and medium enterprises in the Mfantseman Municipality and Abura Asebu Kwamankese District are to benefit from on-lending loan facility being provided by the Support Programme for enterprise Empowerment and development (SPEED), a German-based Organisation.Through its Funding Facility Component, SEED has channelled the support through the Mfantseman Community Bank at Biriwa.SPEED facilitates development of financial market and business development services for micro, small and medium enterprises. Mr Martin Briggs, SPEED Funding Facility (SFF), Technical Director presented a cheque for the support to Reverend George Ato Mills-Graves, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mfantseman Community Bank.He said SPEED was a platform for the harmonisation and co-ordination of donor support to create a favourable business environment for micro, small and medium- size enterprises.
http://ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/10/31/small-and-medium-enterprises-to-get-financial-support/
Poland: SMEs in Poland keen to grow, says report
Polish small and medium-sized enterprises are keen to develop, according to a report by the Polish Ministry of the Economy. More enterprises declare eagerness to start new investments and create jobs. Also a greater number of the enterprises expect their revenues to increase. The investment forecast index has risen for the first time since 2006 (although it still continues on a low level). Enterprises have been allocating financial resources primarily to vehicles, equipment and furniture. The most eager to invest were companies providing transport services (over 90%) and companies active in the services sector (70%).The survey showed that entrepreneurs perceive the economic slowdown experienced in the first half of the year as a temporary situation. Numerous companies operating in bigger cities declared not to have felt any signs of the changing economic climate. In comparison to the previous editions of the survey, increased also the percentage of entrepreneurs expecting improvement in conditions for economic activity management. Every 10th owner of a micro enterprise expects revenues to grow.
http://www.polishmarket.com.pl/document/:21500?lang=PL
Pakistan: SBP launches Refinancing Facility for SMEs
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched a new Refinancing Facility for modernisation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and for the development of SME sector in the country.Initial financing under the Scheme, which is effective from November 2, 2009, will be available for import/purchase of new Rice Husking Machines, Paddy Driers and Parboiling Plants by the sponsors of Rice Husking Units/Automatic Sella Plants. According to SBP, the scheme will encourage the sponsors of Rice Husking Mills/ Automatic Sella Plants to modernise their mills/units to produce quality rice. Other SME clusters, as and when made eligible, will be announced separately.According to terms and conditions of the scheme, the rate of mark-up once fixed shall remain locked-in for the entire duration of the loan, provided the borrowers continue to repay all scheduled installments by the respective due dates.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C11%5C03%5Cstory_3-11-2009_pg5_5
SMEs Vital for Innovative, Green Growth
Innovation by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is vital for "green" sustainable growth, a renowned international business management consultant said Tuesday.Tom Peters, speaking at the 2009 New Growth Engines conference held at a convention center in Ilsan, north of Seoul, said history has shown that change will be led by smaller-sized companies, not conglomerates.If South Korea is striving for genuine leadership and is not satisfied with simply being a "fast follower," it is important to cultivate SMEs, he said.His opinion coincides with the government's strategy of building the competitiveness of SMEs, which hire roughly 88 percent of the entire workforce. The Lee Myung-bak administration has set its sights on using "green growth" as the main engine to pull off sustainable economic gains
http://www.telecomskorea.com/business-3939.html
Informal sector workers get full pension coverage
A new rule requiring employers, regardless of the number of people in their payroll, to make monthly social security contributions for their workers has come into force, offering millions of Kenyans in micro enterprises and households security in retirement.
The legislation, effected through a Kenya Gazette notice last week, also promises to shore up the National Social Security Fund (NSSF’s) revenue base, bringing on board additional money for investment in the economy.It represents a significant departure from the existing pension rules that limited social security contributions to employers with more than five workers in their payrolls. The move is expected to improve pension coverage in the informal sector where only a tiny fraction of employees are contributing. Employers are expected to start contributing to the pension money beginning this month.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/684530/-/item/2/-/sk28ra/-/index.html
Going green lifts bottom line
TEN years ago, not many businesses think the environment can affect their operations. But in recent years, a trend has developed both globally and locally, showing that going green can actually boost bottom line. "Everything a business uses goes back to the bottom line cutting down on paper, water and electricity doesn't just translate into profits, but also helps the environment," said Nanette Ramos, conference manager of Brunei-based Asia Inc Forum. Going green is also a way for businesses to sustain themselves longer, she said. "Part of sustainable business operations is to help the environment and knowing where you can cut costs from small things like paper, energy and water," she said, noting the need to help local businesses become more sustainable.
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/business-national/2009/11/06/going-green-lifts-bottom-line
GSBC Opens New Vista for SMEs in Gyeonggi Province
The Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center (GSBC) is such a local agency promoting local businesses’ globalization. Since it was established in 1997 as the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Promotion Foundation and renamed GSBC in 1999, the GSBC has been aspiring to serve as “The Gateway to Global Business” under the slogan “From Startup to Global Business.” GSBC projects are part of Gyeonggi Province‘s efforts to become the economic hub of Northeast Asia, while GSBC is helping SMEs in the province go global without much difficulty.
http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/5633/gsbc-opens-new-vista-smes-gyeonggi-province
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