National Assembly - Minister Benstrong to answer nine questions |31 May 2016

The Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship, Development and Business Innovation, Michael Benstrong, will be in the National Assembly this week to answer nine questions pertaining to his ministry.

The questions will address the following matters: whether the ministry plans to conduct an in-depth study to get precise information about SMEs in the country that will help the government make key decisions in relation to the development of SMEs; details of what is being done to address the concerns of small entrepreneurs, which were pointed out during the visits of President James Michel in the districts; details on the new Development Policy for small businessmen and what the ministry is doing to ensure the continuity and growth of small businesses; when the ministry is planning to review the rental cost of kiosk in Port Glaud which is currently more expensive than the kiosks in town; what is being done to allow the businesses in industrial areas to move forward in order to make more profit and create additional employment; among others.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Charles Bastienne, will also be present to introduce the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016. This Bill, if approved, will introduce new sections which provide for offences relating to Automated Transaction Machine (ATM) fraud attempts affecting the banking sector.