Government has pledged to fast track payments for goods and services provided by Small and Medium Enterprises

The ministry of trade has pledged its commitment to iron out challenges that delay the payments of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) after offering goods and services to government ministries, departments and agencies.

This comes amid concerns that SMEs find it difficult to service loans they get from financial institutions due to such delays hence being labelled as a risk among financial lending institutions.

Limbikani Chiwaya Director of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives in the Ministry of Trade and Industry make it difficult admitted of the delay in payment and its impact on the growth and operations of SMEs.

This far, Chiwaya has announced his ministry’s plans of wanting to have a roundtable discussion between MDAs and SMEs to find a lasting solution to challenges that lead to SMEs taking long before being paid after successfully delivering goods and services to government.