ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MINISTRY

PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES FROM JANUARY, 2020.

Ø CAPACITY BUILDING, ADVOCACY, SENSITIZATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

1. Grass root sensitization of indigenes of the State across the 13 LGAs on available funding options and the David Umahi Second Address Initiative.
2. Free entrepreneurship training for youths in the State on web design, software development, solar panel installation, paint production, shoe production, cosmetology etc.
3. Ebonyi Business Forum (Weekly entrepreneurship training for startups and existing businesses)
4. Umahi MSME Mentorship Scheme (Mentorship programme for startups by successful business persons and CEOs of established and renowned enterprises)

Ø FINANCIAL INCLUSION, ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND JOB CREATION.

1. Establishment of the Ebonyi Export Club
2. Ongoing recruitment of 650 rural bank agents across the 13 LGAs
3. Ongoing profiling of unemployed Ebonyians for possible placement and attachment in relevant sectors.

Ø EASE OF DOING BUSINESS.

1. Regular meetings with regulatory agencies in the State under the platform of the Ebonyi MSME Stakeholders Forum
2. Online SME data Collation across the 13 LGAs of the State to be uploaded on an online portal for accessibility and visibility globally.
3. Online collation of business plans for startups and existing businesses for possible funding by the State.

Ø ACCESS TO FINANCE FOR SMEs

1. Ongoing N400,000,000 Loan disbursement to a cross-section of Abakaliki Traders Association and Ekeaba Market Association, and Poultry Dealers Association in partnership with Zenith Bank Plc
2. 2126 existing SMEs in the State shortlisted for the CBN's AGSMEIS Loan; awaiting to be credited while 108 persons have been credited.
3. 1,278 SMEs benefited from the CBN's COVID-19 TARGETED CREDIT FACILITY through the assistance of the Ministry
4. Ebonyi CARES Programme 2020-2023 (Effective post Covid-19 Economic Intervention)