Algiers, June 1, 2005—
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, partnered with two Algerian institutions few days ago to introduce the SME Toolkit in Algeria. It is a joint project with the Algerian SME Ministry to build the capacity of the CNC PME (Conseil National Consultatif pour la promotion de la Petite et Moyenne Entreprise), the National Advisory Board for SME Development in Algeria.
The introduction of the SME toolkit in Algeria will help leverage the latest information and communication technologies. The aim is to support small and medium enterprises learn and implement sustainable business management practices and increase their productivity, efficiency, and capacity, thereby improving their access to new markets.
The Private Enterprise Partnership in the Middle East and North Africa (PEP-MENA), IFC’s technical assistance facility for the region, will help strengthen Algerian Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) by building the organizational capacity of the CNC PME. PEP-MENA will also help provide effective operational tools.
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The Algerian SME Ministry was established in 2000. Its main role is to promote and develop the SME sector. The SME Ministry defines and implements an integrated strategy for improving the SME global environment and promoting SME initiatives.
CNC PME (Conseil National Consultatif pour la promotion de la Petite et Moyenne Entreprise) was created in June 2001 as the highest Algerian national council to improve the business enabling environment for SMEs and to support local Business Membership Organizations development. CNC PME has 85 members, 36 out of which are BMOs and business confederations.
SME Toolkit is a project of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. It offers a range of rich interactive content to help educate small business owners and managers in seven core business areas: Accounting and Finance, Business Planning, Human Resources, Legal and Insurance, Marketing and Sales, Operations, and Information Technology.
PEP-MENA is IFC’s technical assistance facility that supports private sector development in the Middle East and North Africa. PEP-MENA focuses on improving the business-enabling and regulatory environment in the region; strengthening the financial sector; promoting the growth of small and medium enterprises and their support services, such as business organizations and consulting firms; helping restructure and privatize state-owned enterprises; and developing viable private sector and public-private partnership projects, especially in infrastructure.
The mission of IFC (
www.ifc.org
) is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives. IFC finances private sector investments in the developing world, mobilizes capital in the international financial markets, helps clients improve social and environmental sustainability, and provides technical assistance and advice to governments and businesses. From its founding in 1956 through FY04, IFC has committed more than $44 billion of its own funds and arranged $23 billion in syndications for 3,143 companies in 140 developing countries. IFC’s worldwide committed portfolio as of FY04 was $17.9 billion for its own account and $5.5 billion held for participants in loan syndications.
