Strategies and policies for the integration of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises into the industrialization process in Southern Africa

Abstract

The study is focused on enhancing the effective participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in agriculture and natural-resource-led industrialization, in particular agroprocessing and mineral processing value chains. Motivation for this selection lies in the priorities identified in the SADC Industrialization Strategy. For agroprocessing in the study, the findings of a SADC study entitled “Profiling of the regional agro-processing value chains in the SADC region (hereinafter referred to as the SADC agroprocessing study), which was finalized by SADC in March 2019. In the study success factors are identified for upstream and downstream value chain participation in agroprocessing. Among the recommendations in the study is a five-point policy framework to improve the potential for establishing sustainable agroprocessing value chains in the region. This report’s agroprocessing discussion provide micro, small and medium-sized enterprises specific strategies and policies within this framework.