Sethala platform launched

MAMELLLO SEBATANE

Maseru – The Ministry of Small Business Development, Co-operatives and Marketing yesterday officially launched Sethala, a platform that is meant to facilitate discussions between the private and public sectors for the betterment of the MSMEs and Cooperatives.

Sethala was launched under the theme “facilitation of access to finance and market for MSMEs and Cooperatives”.

Speaking at the event held at Manthabiseng Convention Centre, Minister of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing, Chief Thesele ’Maseribane said that a lot of discussions were held with different stakeholders for development of small businesses and national economic growth prior to the launch.

“We need to ensure good investments in order to grow the country’s economy. We should invest money, policies and laws into the development of new and already existent small businesses and towards achieving short and long term goals of the country through this ministry,” he said.

He added that nurturing small businesses for the growth of Lesotho’s economy should be place on the National Agenda.

’Maseribane said that through its objectives Sethala will, among others, work towards formalisation of informal businesses with the help of institutions like BEDCO, banks, cooperatives and the ministry itself through the Partial Credit Guarantee Fund (PCGF) that is set to back loan applications for small businesses.