Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a key role in economic development and job creation. However, adopting new technologies is still a problem for many. Fortunately, this barrier may have its days numbered.
Many national companies face barriers every day, such as lack of access to finance, lack of technical capacity in management matters or difficulties in acquiring technological means. The lack of platforms to support companies in integrating technological tools makes the scenario even more complicated. To fill this gap, the Mozambican Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (APME) teamed up with Startup Africa News and developed the Innovation and Business Development Platform for Startups.
According to Inocêncio Paulino, chairman of the board of the APME assembly, the platform will act as a digital vehicle, offering personalised solutions ranging from business exposure to access to investors.
By promoting the adoption of technologies, this initiative could also increase productivity, improve operational efficiency and broaden the market reach of MSMEs, allowing them to position themselves strategically in an increasingly digitalised and competitive environment.
There are 750 companies registered on the platform, i.e. 60 per cent of those that are part of APME.By registering, they gain access to credentials so that they can exhibit ideas and products on the Internet
‘The idea is for entrepreneurs to have greater technical and technological capacity to do business with their peers, firstly from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), then from Africa as a whole and, lastly, from the European Union (EU), among other countries around the world,’ explained Inocêncio Paulino.

What advantages does it bring?
Given the difficulty in accessing funding, Paulino explained that the platform will showcase business ideas to investors from all over the world. It’s a showcase for ‘cross-checking information with potential investors. Often, companies or financiers are looking for investment plans and find it difficult to access them. Through this platform, they will be able to access the business plans of each company,’ he explained.
Business in a global village
Joseph Mata, a representative of Startup Africa News, explained to E&M that the organisation wants to help companies expand their business across borders and end the exclusion of businesses that are located in rural areas, have difficulty accessing the Internet and are often unable to grow online.
‘When we talk about start-ups, we mean emerging companies. In the age of technology, we want to include economic agents who are in rural areas and who often don’t have the possibility of creating a website or different communication channels to be exposed to the market.’ Through the platform and initiatives with local governments, new paths can be travelled. ‘It’s not an automatic thing, but it’s a first step that we’re trying to take to change the scenario in Mozambique.’
‘In the age of technology, we want to include economic agents who are in rural areas and who often don’t have the possibility of creating a website’, Startup Africa News
There are 750 companies registered on the platform, or 60 per cent of those that are part of APME. By registering, they gain access to credentials so that they can exhibit ideas and products on the Internet. ‘We want to grow and reach more than 30,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in all sectors of activity.
The role of research
Research ‘is very important for the business environment’, which is why ‘links will be created with technical and vocational education institutions and universities, in order to promote research and the development of new ideas’, added Inocêncio Paulino.
The Para Startup Innovation and Business Development Platform can be accessed at https://startupafrica.news/. Within the platform, you can find information about different companies, events and various publications and then search for APME to access all the information about the companies that are part of the association or simply use the address https://www.apme.org.mz/index.php.
To have access to all the features, companies must belong to the association and fulfil the usual requirements for new members. Other APME services include training activities, access to forums, conferences and business missions.
MSMEs account for almost 100 per cent of Mozambique’s productive sector and are responsible for generating jobs and promoting innovation. The creation of the platform is yet another initiative to help companies grow on the Internet.
Text: Ana Mangana – Photo: D.R.