Panel Discussion Session about Creating enabling environment for SMEs

A panel discussion was convened to identify the critical bottlenecks facing youth entrepreneurship in Bitena City and to formulate collaborative strategies. The discussion featured leaders from key institutions: Bitena TVET, Bitena Prosperity Party, Bitena Enterprise, Revenue Office, and Job Creation offices. Participants collectively identified major bottlenecks, including a mismatch between TVET skills and market needs, complex regulatory and tax processes for startups, limited access to seed capital, and a risk-averse culture. To tackle these challenges, the panel proposed integrated strategies. These include developing demand-driven training curricula in partnership with TVET and establishing a local seed-fund network facilitated by enterprise offices. The panel concluded with a commitment to partner with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of Ethiopia to leverage its expertise and implement these strategies, thereby effectively developing the entrepreneurial spirit of the city's youth.