The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Modupe Adelaja, on Monday, disclosed that the agency would set criteria or benchmarks for Trade Groups wishing to partner with it on the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
The SMEDAN boss, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Officer of the agency, Mr. Levi Anyikwa, made this known when she received a delegation from the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists led by the Chairman of the Abuja Chapter, Mr. Josiah Ijeoma.
Adelaja stressed the need for strong and vibrant trade groups to collaborate with the agency to achieve the Federal Government's objectives in the SME sub-sector.
"There is need for members of NASSI to carry out a self-assessment of the needs of trade groups with a view to positioning their associations for a productive partnership with SMEDAN.
"NASSI members should eschew pursuit of parochial interests and engage in ventures that would generate employment, create wealth and reduce poverty. The government is ready to give support to the Trade Groups," she explained.
Meanwhile, SMEDAN has received a total of 29 expressions of interest from firms wishing to execute different categories of contracts for the agency.
The contracts range from website development, supply of computers and furniture, and operational vehicles.
Anyikwa disclosed that five firms submitted EOIs for website development, namely: Optimal Network Services/PGC Global Consulting Limited, Amana Consortium/Ice Cool Constructs, Agenda Consulting Nigeria Limited, Logic Sciences Limited and NNCHE Information Technology.
He further noted that 17 firms submitted EOIs for the supply of computers and furniture. The firms included: Omatek Ventures, Infographics Multimedia Solutions, Kellon International and Mediatrics, Complete Networks, Roladet Nigeria Limited, and Lowel Industries Nigeria Limited, among others.
The agency has set up a committee to evaluate the submissions and pre-qualify bidders. The committee, however, has two weeks to complete its assignment.
