The Ministry of Industrialization and
Enterprise Development says it is putting
in place measures that will help create
one million jobs annually within the next
three years.
The measures aim to create jobs mainly
in the leather, agro-processing, furniture,
metal fabrication and other trades in the
informal sector by the year 2016.
Industrialization Principal Secretary Dr.
Wilson Songa says that the ministry is
already laying down a foundation for this
to be achieved.
“We need to create an enabling
environment and we are working very
closely with stakeholders to ensure that
this happens and we should be able to
put in place concrete plans on enhanced
job creation within the next one year”
said Dr. Songa.
The PS also encouraged college leavers
not to eye white-collar jobs only but also
seriously consider self employment
especially in the informal sector.
“Everyone cannot be absorbed in formal
employment. That is why we call upon
those who graduate from learning
institutions to apply the entrepreneurial
knowledge they have learnt for self-
employment. The informal sector offers a
perfect opportunity for them and I would
like to tell them that they can always
count on our support,” the PS said.
The Permanent Secretary also said that
the new Micro and Small Enterprises Act
will anchor creation of a million jobs
annually in the informal sector.
This he said, will be done through creation
of a revolving fund from where
entrepreneurs can borrow money at low
interest rates. He added that most small
and medium sized enterprises find it hard
growing because of the high cost of capital
to drive them to greater heights.
The ministry also plans on working closely
with the informal sector stakeholders to
help them meet the quality and
standards of products that will promote
locally produced goods.