The All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate in Plateau, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, has promised to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state .
The candidate made the promise in an interactive forum with the Association of Local Brewers in the state on Wednesday in Jos.
He said that his blue print for the state included prioritising the establishment and development of SMEs to improve the welfare of Plateau people.
He promised that he would support SMEs through the provision of subvention to improve on and expand their businesses.
He also promised that he would create enabling environment for the development of SMEs, through facilitating access to credit facilities without stringent conditions.
“SMEs would access loan without without interest and collateral,” he said.
Yilwatda implored the Local Brewers Association to organise themselves into cooperatives to enable them to access loan facilities and other services with ease.
He said their business would also be upgraded through the use of alternative to firewood, in producing the alcoholic beverage, adding that they would be provided a space to operate their businesses.
He appealed for their cooperation to achieve the feat, while acknowledging that income from brewing business had been used to empower children in education.
In his remarks, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, thanked the brewers for their sacrifices in business to ensure their children have a secured future.
He expressed optimism that the engagement would pave way for more consultations with them in improving their business and also other businesses.
He urged them to come out in mass to vote for the APC in the governorship and state assembly elections to consolidate on the achievements of his administration.
The leader of the delegation, Mrs Rhoda Wang, said that all brewers had been instructed to close their business stations till after the elections.
“We have instructed our members to open only by 2p.m. to encourage voting on Saturday,” she said.
She said the association need assistance in the provision of water and affordable shops for them to operate their businesses.