The Warri Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines Agriculture (WACCIMA) in collaboration with Dorbudee Consulting firm, a linkage facilitator to Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), weekend engaged stakeholders in the industry on how to enhance business linkages aimed at boosting the economy of Warri and its environs.
Patricia Idiakhoa, President, WACCIMA, who spoke at the Warri Business Linkages Forum with the theme “Collaborating For Sustainable SMEs Development” said there was need to bring all business owners together and teach them how to collaborate with each other so as to make Warri and environs the business hub of the state.
To achieve this, Idiakhoa therefore, appealed to the Delta government to sustain its training and empowerment programmes to address unemployment in the state.
“Government has been very supportive, it should continue to train the people and get the youth off the street,” she said.
Idiakhoa, who spoke to newsmen on the sideline said the essence of the forum was to link small scale business operators with the medium ones, meet potential buyers and also share ideas on how to grow businesses.
“The Warri Business Linkages Forum will provide networking opportunities and platform for SMEs for participants to meet with potential large buyers.
“Showcase market opportunities in the various targeted sectors, link service providers to end users and educate entrepreneurs on business supports aimed at developing and improving their businesses.
“I am partnering with other organisations to ensure businesses improved in Warri and environs. We have been focusing on oil but now we are diverting into the non-oil sector especially agriculture, not just farming alone but adding values to it.
“Some people believe that Warri is not safe for doing business but with this kind of programme, we are creating the awareness that Warri is safe for business,” she said.
The WACCCIMA boss said creating the right ideas and harnessing them properly could translate into wealth.
She urged the SMEs to always create the right ideas and also meet the with the Business Service Providers (BSP) for guidance.
Also speaking, Liz Oluwadare, representative of the USAID identified lack of enabling business environment, access to finance, market, improved quality standard and packaging as some of the challenges confronting business operators in Nigeria.
Oluwadare, who spoke on the topic, “Feed the future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activities” said that the program provided good opportunities for the SMEs to create the right linkages to improve on their businesses.
“The programme is a springboard for businesses. It is a good opportunity for them to create the necessary linkages and activities that will facilitate the improvement in their business processes.
“USAID create business environment, improved access to finance and facilitate investment. For instance, if you need fund to grow your business, we fill in the gap for you.
“We also do capacity building activities, provide technical assistance and support, we assist businesses to create the necessary linkages to access finance,” she said
