International Council of Small Business immediate past chair Dr Winslow Sargeant has recommended that stakeholders strengthen domestic labour markets by making the best use of untapped resources such as women, youth and MSMEs.
While sharing some recommendations to boost the MSME sector, Dr Sargeant said governments should create quality jobs and ensure there were enough skilled workers. He said the focus should be on mainstreaming gender and youth.
“More innovative, growth-oriented MSMEs and startups should be encouraged to help create new, quality jobs,” Dr Sargeant said at the recent MSME Conference in Suva.
He recommended the diversification of domestic businesses, and to promote internationalising MSMEs through improved market access both domestically and globally.
He also recommended developing clusters that facilitated cost-efficient production and promoting MSME exports in global markets or global value chains.
“Government could develop digital market information platforms for small exporters, strengthen business development and advisory services, provide training in skills development, and create a special economic zone for small exporters with possible assistance such as tax relief.”
Dr Sargeant added a national entrepreneurial base should be created by promoting women and young entrepreneurs, startups, rural MSMEs, and also by strengthening entrepreneurial capacity development program.
He said that was also closely linked with diversifying domestic business.
