The National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) has assisted micro, small and medium scale entrepreneurs to create 14,738 businesses from January 2017 to March 2020 with about 68 percent women owned.

These have also led to 21, 892 new jobs within the period according to the Executive Director of the National Board for Small Scale Industries, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh.

Speaking at the maiden edition in the series of the “Nation Building Update” organised by the Information Ministry, the Executive Director also disclosed that there has been an increase in the presence of the agency through the establishment of business resource centres across the country in addition to its existing offices.

“We have 185 business advisory offices and 37 business resource centres across the country and we have also assisted 14,355 to adopt improved technology in their operations,” she noted.

The NBSSI has facilitated access to ¢38,527,785.21 as credit to entrepreneurs from January 2017 to March 2020.

According to her, the NBSSI is not only responsible in the provision of support services through funds but also have the mandate of providing advisory services to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)  in all sectors of the economy across the country.

Giving an update on the Coronavirus Alleviation Business support programme, Kosi Yankey hinted that out of the over 850,000 applications received, more than 200,000 MSMEs have so far benefited from the initiative.