Ladies and Gentlemen, the Government continues to recognize the important role that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play in promoting economic growth and development.

The Government also recognizes the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises because they drive innovation and form an integral part of the innovation ecosystem. SMEs are more agile than larger enterprises, which allows them to respond quickly to changes in the market which is an imperative for a resilient economy.

SMEs also discover and open new markets through creativity and dynamism. They are an important bridge between micro-enterprise and industrial-scale business. In short, SMEs are the engines of our economy.