Published on 08/08/2008
Business: Trade
The Standard Newspaper,Kenya
By Kenneth Kwama

The Ministry of Trade is working to create a policy to relax procurement rules to make it easier for young entrepreneurs to tender for Government jobs.
"Some of the rules like those that require people to have been in business for more than 10 years before being considered for Government tenders are unfair to young entrepreneurs and should be reviewed," said Mr Omingo Magara, Assistant Minister for Trade.
Magara spoke during the unveiling of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is set to take place from November 17-23. The concept is aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs who want to do business. The event will take place in more than 60 countries.
In Kenya, it will be co-ordinated by the Sacoma Centre for business enterprises, which says it hopes to create 10,000 new jobs for the youth by the end of the one-week event. "We are working with partners who are willing to support the youth in various ways like training, mentorship and start up capital. In the end, we hope this will enable young people to create their own businesses and employ people," said Ms Peres Ochieng’, CEO of Sacoma.

Youth Participation
The organisers expect thousands of youths from different districts to participate. Chris Spavin, the International Campaigns executive for the programme, lauded the idea as revolutionary to help the youth in developing countries take charge of their own destinies.
"It aims to inspire a movement of people and stakeholders to celebrate and engage in enterprising ideas and make them happen," said Spavin.
The idea was first mooted in the UK, with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown acting as patron of one of the founder organisations.
Magara said his ministry would provide the infrastructure necessary to support the initiative and also work on new policy to make the business environment friendlier to the youth.
He cited the many procedures required by procurement rules saying they were hostile to young entrepreneurs. He said some jobs like construction of feeder roads in rural areas could be given to the youth without necessarily going through the tendering process.
Other events lined up for the week include business ideas competition and campaigns for new policies geared at improving business environment for young people.

Be part of successful and inspirational entrepreneurs from around the world to coach and mentor the next generation of young Kenyan entrepreneurs

An opportunity to inspire millions of young people in Kenya to unleash their ideas to tackle some of society’s biggest issues:
• Create sustainable enterprises and jobs
• Think Big - To turn their ideas into reality
• Embrace innovation, imagination and creativity
• Investment in businesses with a commercial return from the businesses in which they invest

There are many ways you can be involved
• Become a mentor and a coach to inspire the young people
• Become an Angel Investor
• Be the fist to look at business plans with viable investment and lucrative opportunities
• Increase youth entrepreneurship and drive economic prosperity
• Engage and encourage young people to pursue entrepreneurial ideas
• Invest in the youth to participate in a range of activities at national, regional, District, and Global levels
• Volunteer your time to provide trainings in key areas of your expertise. Courses will range from
• Adopt a village and sponsor young people to Young people to unleash ideas in fashion, sports, technology, music, packaging, science and new media.

For more information please visit www.sacomacfe.com

UK Office:
Tel: + 44 (20) 8554 9444
Grace (grace.makutsa@sacomacfe.com)

Kenya Office
Tel: 020 4343991 Mobile: 0725 098 066
Judy (judyn@sacomacfe.com)

“Entrepreneurship is the key to opening up global markets, driving economies and creating jobs and opportunities. With Global Entrepreneurship Week, we will invest in the young minds .Young people will be unleashing their ideas in areas as diverse as fashion, sports, technology, music, science and new media. The possibilities are endless and the opportunity to motivate young people to be self-starters and innovators is unsurpassed’.

During the week 17-23 November 2008 young people will participate in a range of activities - online and face-to-face – district, national and international level to harness the energy of worldwide social networking, connecting nationally and globally taking action in their local and global communities and to celebrate entrepreneurship across the globe.

Global Entrepreneurship Week was co-created by Make your Mark and the Kauffman Foundation to inspire young people all over the world to un;eash their ideas to tackle societies biggest issues. It was announced in the UK by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
As facilitators and the host of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kenya, SACOMA Centre for Enterprise seeks to inspire and catalyse action in others. We do so by tapping into and responding to our audiences’ and partners’ motivations and aspirations, and by providing a platform for others to shine. We are working in coalitions and partnerships to identify and develop mutual benefit and strategic alignment.

-