LEA launches an all-sector strategy
Keikantse Lesemela | Thursday July 17, 2014 12:16
In the past strategy, 2010-2014 LEA only focused on four sectors of the economy which include dairy, leather, piggery and horticulture.
Launching the new four-year strategy in Gaborone this week, LEA chief executive, Tebogo Matome said the authority would adopt a customer centric focus while offering high quality interventions and services.
“The purpose of this will be to ensure not only the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises but also to create sustainability and impact through high revenue generation, creation of employment and entry into new markets,” said Matome.
He explained that the thrust of the new strategy is based on the adoptions of an all-sector focus and differentiated service offerings. “Experience has shown that the different cohorts of enterprises on the micro-to-medium spectrum have distinct needs, so there is need to offer differentiated services to these groups.
According to this model LEA created two wings to cater for micro-enterprises on one side and small and medium enterprises on another side”.
Micro Enterprises are classified as enterprises making revenue of less than P300,000 per annum and service offering will be in form of trainings and workshops. Through this model Matome said LEA would focus on service efficiency to improve the volume of jobs and businesses created and sustained with same cost base.
Effective service quality and increased customer responsiveness to ensure sustainability, which requires both adequate funding, levels and sufficient cost recovery for services.
Matome explained that the strategy was initiated after extensive consultations with the stakeholders and the findings suggested that LEA should adopt a strategy that will service all sectors within the country in order to increase population coverage. “The strategy offers LEA the opportunity to provide cost effective, targeted interventions that address the needs of SMMEs per scale”.
In sustaining the strategy LEA intends to package its services and sell them to the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, Office of the President, Rural Development Council and private companies.
“We firmly believe that adopting such competitive, growth and sustainability strategies will not only reposition LEA as a centre of excellence in SMME development but will ensure that it becomes a key driver of change in contributing to the sustainable economic diversification in the country in line with its statutory obligations,” said Matome.
Since inception in 2007, the authority has implemented two strategies first focusing on Agriculture, manufacturing, services and tourism. It prioritised women, youth, and the unemployed, pre start-up and startup services. The second strategy started in 2010 to 2014 and it focused on the four sub sectors of piggery, horticulture, dairy and leather.
“It should be noted that even though we are moving back to all sectors, we have explored new avenues of service delivery and the method of delivery has also changed,” said Matome.