Swaziland Small and Medium Enterprises Online Community

<body> <p align="justify">About the Private Sector Support Programme </p> <p align="justify">The Private Sector Support Programme (PSSP) of the European Union has been set to help to strengthen the private sector in Swaziland. Three areas of the private sector have been targeted. These are foreign direct investment, tourism and small business. The European Development Fund (EDF) has set aside approximately Euros 6 million for this work (Emalangani 52 million). </p> <p align="justify">The small business component of the PSSP operates from the Small Business Unit within the Ministry of Enterprise and Employment. It has three main objectives which are to: </p> <p align="justify">1. Improve and simplify the regulatory and trading environment for Small Business<br> 2. Improve access to finance for small business <br> 3. Improve the quality of training and support for small businesses </p> <p align="justify">To achieve these objectives the PSSP is working with a range of partners in the private, public and NGO sector. It has assisted the Government to develop a draft policy statement for the small business sector, and is providing training, support and accreditation for people who train and advise small businesses. It is working with Micro-finance organisations such as the Enterprise Trust Fund and Imbita Women’s Finance Trust to strengthen the capacity of these organizations to help small business. The PSSP has also assisted small business owners to attend trade fairs and has sponsored trade fairs here in Swaziland. </p> </body>