Comesa touts SME’s role in regional integration

THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has highlighted restricted market access as a major barrier to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), undermining efforts toward regional economic integration.

MSMEs play a critical role in Zimbabwe’s economy, generating over 60 percent of economic activity and employing millions of people.
Despite their significance, many MSMEs struggle to expand due to limited access to regional markets.
Comesa market access expert Nsangwa Ngwira, emphasised the need to unlock the full potential of MSMEs to boost regional trade.
“Various obstacles continue to impede access to markets, such as sanitary and phytosanitary standards and trade barriers, with limited access to market information being a primary concern,” said Ngwira.

“Most MSMEs are unsure about where to sell their products, in what format, and at what price. This lack of information restricts their ability to innovate, add value, and produce quality goods, as they remain unaware of crucial market requirements and trends.”
Ngwira also highlighted the importance of capacity-building initiatives to strengthen market linkages.
“This capacity-building initiative has arrived at an opportune moment as we seek to revitalise our market linkages, especially considering the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on them.”
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) president Tapiwa Karoro underscored the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to equip businesses for regional competition.
“The ultimate goal is to empower Zimbabwean enterprises, especially women-led businesses and SMEs, to tap into regional markets and compete on a larger scale,” Karoro said.
In a related development, several Zimbabwean MSMEs have shown interest in listing on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange to raise capital and access future funding opportunities.
The local bourse recently launched a training programme for prospective issuers to clarify the listing process and its benefits.
This initiative was prompted by the recognition of the untapped potential within many companies and the existing knowledge gap regarding listing on the exchange.
The combination of market access reforms and capital-raising initiatives is seen as key to helping MSMEs grow and contribute more significantly to regional economic integration.
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