Promoting Green SMEs for Sustainable Development in Kogi

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Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada has advocated the need for a deliberate effort to ensure that new and growing businesses contribute to the reduction in carbon emissions and deforestation as well as optimise the use of environmentally friendly energy sources.Capt Wada stated this at the D8 Small and Medium Enterprises Governmental Bodies Meeting with the theme Promoting Green SMEs for Sustainable Development.The D8 meeting is for developing Eight Organisation for Economic Cooperation made up of the following countries:Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, urged for developmental policies that protects the environment and the promotion of a green economy as an essential part of the policy articulation and development process.

While noting that the present administration in the state has been in the fore front for the promotion of SMEs as well as the environment, said the hosting of two national environmental programmes this year underscored that effort.

Aside partnering with national and international organization to improve the ease of doing business and to improve access to finance SMEs,  it has also collaborated particularly with the UNDP to use solar energy to power some projects like the garri production and processing cluster established in Imela by solar energy.

Capt Wada described SME,s as engine of the economy responsible for creating employment and rural urban drift, called for a more articulated policy to guarantee long term sustainable development, poverty reduction and employment generation.

In a remarks, Dr Olusegun Aganga, Minister for Trade and Investment, who represented Vice President Namadi Sambo, described SMEs as the most important sectors of the economy.

He added that SMEs represents 97% of the businesses in Nigeria and contributes 75% of the national employment, thus employing over 32 million people and contributes about 47% to the GDP, said the growth of the sector is related to the economy as a whole.

In his address, Sayed Mousavi, D8 Secretary General, said meeting is geared towards achieving better and sustainable economic developments of micro, small and medium enterprises in member states.

In his welcome remarks, Bature Masari, DG of SMEDAN, described the SMEs as a very significant sector in poverty reduction, called for efforts to enhance the interest of Nigerians in the sector.


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