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Auxilia Katongomara Business Reporter
SMALL to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the major driver behind the economic success of Japan with over 3,8 million of them operating in the Asian giant’s economy, an official has said.

Sharing his country’s experience in the SMEs sector during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) last week, Japanese Embassy counsellor Yoshitake Tsuzuki said SMEs contribute immensely to the growth of one of the world’s largest economies as well as creating jobs in the Asian country.

“Small to medium enterprises are one of the most important factors for economic development. In Japan there are lot of SMEs, over 3,8 million companies. On the other hand there are only 11,000 big companies. It’s not too much to say that Japan’s economy is based on SMEs,” said Tsuzuki.

He said his country had initiated a number of policies in SMEs development through improvement of quality and productivity, strengthening SME development organisations and formulation of policies.

“SMEs create employment, revitalise the region, generate income and wealth, increase savings and investment, develop human resources, provide suitable goods and services and strengthen industrial competitiveness,” said Tsuzuki.

“The industrial policy provides vision or direction of industrial development of the country based on the analysis of its economy and industry in consultation with stakeholders including the private sector. It includes policy instruments for achieving the development such as Kaizen (meaning improvement projects).”

The Japanese official said the industrial policy also included SME diagnosis, engineering colleges, linkage between vocational training and business, industrial

estate development and foreign direct investment promotion.

“Productivity is above all, an attitude of mind. It’s an attitude that seeks the continuous improvement of what exists. It’s a conviction that one can do better today than yesterday and that tomorrow shall be better than today.

“Further, it requires constant efforts that adapt economic activities to ever-changing conditions and the application of new theories and new methods. It’s a firm belief in the progress of humanity,” he said.

Tsuzuki said his government in conjunction with the Japanese International Cooperation (JICA) supported SMEs and African countries through Kaizen projects.

Since 2009 the country in conjunction with JICA has seen Kaizen projects being undertaken in nine countries namely Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia as well as the Africa Union Commission.

Some of the Kaizen projects in Africa include the construction of one stop border posts at Chirundu, Namanga in Kenya, Rusumo in Burundi and Kazungula separating Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana.