The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development held a meeting to raise awareness to the civil society on the opportunities available for them in the Lesotho Economic Growth, Job Creation and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Support Programme.
The Deputy Principal Secretary of the ministry, Mr Jobo Rasoko, said that the purpose of the meeting was to reflect on the strategies which can be well implemented throughout the country to increase production.
He said that the programme will be focuses on sectors such as agro-processing, on how well plants can be utilized to produce cosmetics, herbs and spices and also on light industry through which the focus will be on how well feathers and other light products can be used for production.
On the other hand, the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Mr Ramolise Rantsane explained that this is a three-year project implemented under the SADC Economic Partnership Agreement which was signed in June 2016.
He said that the benefits that Lesotho gets under the agreement, include improved markets in the European Union countries, enhancement of economic cooperation, flexible rules of cooperation as well as effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Mrs Mary Motebang from German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), said that Lesotho is currently outstanding in the global market only through diamonds therefore this is another opportunity for Basotho to showcase their potential as the global markets are open.
One of the participants in this meeting, Mrs ‘Malineo Motsepa applauded the ministry for this initiative, saying it is already going to help in the production that they are already engaging in.
However, she appealed for cooperation from different ministries, including that of of local government in terms of land allocation and that of agriculture for skills development and seedlings production.
Production training and skills development are expected to be offered to Basotho who will be nominated for participation in this programme.
Source: Lesotho News Agency (LENA) 18/06/2024
