RICHARD MUTETI STRENGTHENS REGIONAL MSME AGENDA THROUGH STRATEGIC SOMALIA TALKS

By John Kariuki

Richard Muteti, OGW, HSC, Chief Executive Officer of the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises Organization of East Africa (CMSEO-EA), has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and expanding their access to regional markets.

Muteti, a long-serving advocate for small business development, has continued to champion policies and programmes aimed at improving access to finance, markets, technology, skills and cross-border business opportunities for MSMEs.

As part of his regional engagements, Muteti held a strategic meeting with Mohammed Ahmed, Secretary General of the Somalia Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Confederation (SOMSMEC), to discuss preparations for the upcoming 26th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair.

The talks focused on regional trade, market access and stronger collaboration between MSME organisations in East Africa.

Muteti said regional integration can only deliver meaningful benefits when small businesses are able to access markets and trade across borders with fewer challenges.

He noted that Somali entrepreneurs have demonstrated resilience and entrepreneurial capacity, saying stronger links with the wider East African market could create new opportunities for businesses in Somalia and other EAC member states.

Ahmed commended Muteti’s leadership at CMSEO-EA and expressed SOMSMEC’s commitment to ensuring strong participation of Somali MSMEs in the upcoming trade fair.

The 26th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair is expected to bring together entrepreneurs and exhibitors from across the region, providing businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products, identify new markets and establish commercial partnerships.

Muteti said the discussions also explored joint capacity building, cross-border trade facilitation and advocacy for policies that create a more favourable environment for small businesses.

He has previously served as CEO of the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations and has spent more than two decades advocating for the growth and recognition of small enterprises.

Muteti said trade fairs should be viewed as important business platforms rather than simply exhibitions, as they enable entrepreneurs to meet buyers, suppliers, investors and potential partners from different markets.

“Trade fairs are not just exhibitions. They are platforms where a small enterprise from Ruiru can meet a buyer from Kigali, a supplier from Mogadishu and an investor from Arusha,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration between governments, private-sector organisations and development partners to improve access to affordable credit, technology, skills and markets for MSMEs.

Muteti said empowering small enterprises will remain central to job creation, industrialisation, regional trade and inclusive economic growth across East Africa.