Promoting Entrepreneurship 

The Small Business Support program helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) become successful businesses and continue to play their vital role as the major drivers of Afghanistan’s economic development. Through support for capacity building, training, investment, technology, and business development services, SEPA helps improve the private sector productivity and enabling SMEs contribute to increasing employment in Afghanistan. 

Prioritizing women owned and led business, SEPA collaborates with the Afghan private sector and other national and international partners to promote businesses in key sectors such as handicrafts, agribusiness, carpets, marble, gemstones, and business services. We also facilitated public-private partnerships, grants, and practical and technical training. In its final year, ASMED concentrated on creating professional, commercial linkages among SMEs in 25 key districts.

SEPA’s tailored curriculum and business consultancy services help build the capacity of small businesses to operate in Afghanistan challenging environment.  We help them to understand and develop full-fledged business plans that articulates both opportunities, competition and challenges facing Afghan businesses.   Our program also supports business owners in obtaining grants for new people employed and in participating in trade fairs to expand on their access to markets and customer base creating valuable market and networking opportunities.

Sample key activities and support provided to SMEs:

• Provide training to aspiring entrepreneurs to start a small business

• Provide training to small and new business in business management

• Help business develop business plans

• Assist businesses access finance

• Enable business better manage business expenditure

• Help business participate in trade shows

• Support businesses participate in networking events

• Help businesses conduct market research

• Help business in marketing

• Support business in improving product quality

• Enable business retain customers by providing better customer service

• Promote business advocacy and policy support

By helping entrepreneurs realize their potential and start and sustain small business, SEPA promotes the private sector in Afghanistan as the most viable force for economic development and job creation.