The Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts and GIZ on Monday launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Programme, a project that aims to improve management, production and quality standards among local enterprises. Laim Kim Leng, director-general of the SME department, thanked the government and GIZ for giving their resources to help develop the SME sector. He said the project focuses on strengthening management capacity, production and hygiene standards among local firms. Son Seng Huot, under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Industry said the MSME Development Programme will be used to keep firms up-to-date with the latest policies governing the sector and the incentives to which they have access. He called on SMEs to endeavour to adopt the latest technology to enhance their competitiveness at home and abroad. The General Department of Taxation in December issued a notification on the implementation of Sub-decree No 124, which set up tax incentives for SMEs in selected industries. (Source: Khmer Times)