Dakar, Nov 19 (APS) – Senegalese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) signed a memorandum of understanding with several major retail brands on Tuesday in Dakar, to facilitate the marketing of local agri-food products in supermarkets.
The agreement was signed under the supervision of the Market Regulation Agency (ARM), which will use it to better exercise its mission of “supporting small and medium-sized businesses/industries”.
”It is extremely important, for […] our country, that we facilitate access to local products in supermarkets,” said the Commissioner for Economic Investigations and Director General of the Market Regulation Agency, Babacar Sembène.
The Agency for the Development and Supervision of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Senegalese Export Promotion Agency, the directorates responsible for SMEs and internal trade, all placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, will contribute to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding, according to Mr. Sembène.
The memorandum of understanding “will allow us to talk to each other, discuss difficulties and remove constraints,” assured the director general of ARM.
The sealed partnership will at the same time allow the Market Regulation Agency, the directorates and services of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to ensure the quality and “standardization” of Senegalese products intended for large distribution brands, according to Mr. Sembène.
Maguette Diallo, executive director of the Group of Initiatives for Integrated Development (GINDI), believes that the memorandum of understanding is a necessity. ”We felt the need for consultation between agri-food companies and supermarkets,” she said.
GINDI, which brings together Senegalese agri-food professionals, helps SMEs operating in several regions of the country to access supermarkets, according to Ms. Diallo.
It is for this reason that it (GINDI) was associated with the signing of the protocol, she suggested.
”I am delighted to be there for the signing of this partnership, hand in hand with my suppliers. This is a big step ahead for the business,” said the representative of the Auchan brand.
Maguette Pathé Faye, speaking on behalf of SMEs, recalls that “there were a lot of problems” between SMEs and large retail brands, which the protocol is supposed to resolve now. ”These problems could only be resolved with a consultation framework.”
Mr. Faye hopes that agri-food products will be available in large quantities in large retail chains, thanks to the partnership established.
”There will be better visibility and greater accessibility of local products in these areas. There will also be additional revenue for SMEs. Turnovers will increase, which will generate new jobs,” he rejoiced.
ESF/MTN
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