My interest in the problems faced by SMEs have taken me to review problems faced in Jamaica, Singapore, Botswana, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Ghana. The problems vary and at the same time there are similarities. Against that background, there needs to be greater dialogue on how to build capacity of mangers/owners of SMEs.

Would love to have more websites like this. Africa should be more involved, helping each other building businesses. Need positive impact on business ideas for africa & small startups, not only sports. Woman would also like to take part.

When i decided to get involved in the promtion of SMEs, i found out that helping SMEs achieving their strategic intent and goals were not as easy as i thought. The same problems identified as barriers to the successful development of SMEs in the caribbean, the Middle East and African countries, were not the same challenges i have to deal with. They include: (1) How do i market myself on small budgets and get tangible results. (2) The development of a reliable client base that has the capacity to pay. (3) I found it very challenging to turn enquiries into actual business. (4) The of an easily recognizable name by government officials and private sector players often times prevented me from gaining access to them. (5) Spending long hours to develop a strategy that is realistic and is not too short term oriented.

At the end of the day i realized that cooperation is a possible way of getting started, as opposed to competing with someone offering the same service, its better to see how you can cooperate with your competitors to provide valued added services in niche areas.

Those who have a story to tell please drop me a line.