AU applauds Zambia’s leadership in supporting small businesses

African Union Director of Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Ron Osman Omar, has commended the Zambian government for establishing a dedicated Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), calling it a progressive step toward empowering entrepreneurs and driving economic growth.

Speaking during her visit to Zambia on Friday, Omar said the initiative was vital in shaping policies and creating a business environment tailored to the needs of small enterprises.

“I encourage African states to continue looking within Africa to solve Africa’s problems. Economically, industrial entrepreneurship is the way to go,” she said.

Omar is in Zambia attending the 13th AU Multi-Stakeholder Experts Retreat and the 4th Edition of the Africa SME Development Program Partnership Platform (ASMED 3P), held from May 12 to 16, 2025.

The forum aims to advance the AU SME Strategy by promoting formalisation, access to finance, and market integration for African SMEs.

Meanwhile, the Zambian government reaffirmed its commitment to entrepreneurship as a key pillar of national development.

Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Elias Mubanga, welcomed AU’s support and emphasised the importance of MSMEs in Africa’s economic landscape.

“Africa can support Africa. We have everything we need to grow ourselves. We must support our entrepreneurs, particularly those involved in industrialisation and agriculture,” Mubanga said.

He stressed the need for sustainable and inclusive policies, along with strong partnerships, to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem across the continent.

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