By Edward Vamboi
The Sierra Leone Netherlands Business and Culture Council (SLNBCC), in partnership with the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone (USL), on Tuesday 9th March 2021 commenced a 5-day Intensive Training for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sierra Leone with key focus on Business Management.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Binta Jalloh, Project Manager of SLNBCC disclosed that the process is part of activities to foster business relations between Sierra Leone and the Netherlands in order to promote a mutually beneficial state of affairs between the two countries.
She stated further that they are set to promote increased exports, imports, business services, tourism and investments between business and professional persons in Sierra Leone and the Netherlands.
Madam Jalloh enlightened that SLNBCC has been serving as a networking company that ensures the integrity and quality of its members so that new businesses can be conducted in a trusted environment noting that the five-day event is funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency to capacitate registered SMEs with the council in Sierra Leone.
Giving details of the five-day intensive training, Mustapha Kemoh Fofanah, the Project Officer of SLNBCC revealed that the training was meant to capacitate SMEs in Sierra Leone in case they want to partner with other international businesses across the globe so as to help them know what they need to have and do when they want to partner with other international businesses.
He also underscored that the training content focused on Financial Reporting and Book Keeping, Online Presence Management, Communication Strategy, Access to Finance, Professional Pitching, Presentation, Packaging and Design of Products, Branding, Import and Export Requirements, Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) etc.
The Project Officer disclosed that the training targeted 15 SMEs within the health, agriculture and WASH Sectors across Sierra Leone from the field of production, export and supplies.
The course content included key skill areas such as Financial Reporting and Book Keeping, Online Presence Management, Communication Strategy, Professional Pitching, Presentation, Access to Finance, Packaging and Design of Products, Branding, Corporate Social Responsibility, Import and Export Requirements, etc. The cost of the training for each participant and all the logistics concerned were taken care of by SLNBCC and a certified short-course certificate issued to all participants by the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM).
Aminata Bailor Jalloh from the Nexuz Logistics revealed how happy she is to have been part of the intensive SLNBCC training, pointing out, “I must state that I had little or no idea about pitching in business but with resourceful lecturers I am now well-grounded on professional pitching and presentation of company in all platforms.”
Leonard Sesay from Marish Training Company said before attending the training he was thinking of establishing a business but lacked the funds but that after the training he learnt that one can still start a business as long as one has the idea and determination to do so and called on the SLNBCC to replicate same to the general public to help change the dynamics of business in Sierra Leone.
James Kollie, one of the lecturers at the Short Course and Consultancy Department of IPAM told this Press that all expert lecturers in the various areas gave their best as that is the core principle of IPAM.
