Mali has adopted a new Charter for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) aimed at improving support for one of the country’s most important economic sectors, as businesses continue to face difficulties accessing finance, electricity and formal registration.
The charter was signed at the headquarters of the National Council of Malian Employers during a ceremony led by Industry and Commerce Minister Moussa Alassane Diallo. The event was attended by business leaders, representatives of trade chambers, private sector organisations and several government ministers, including those responsible for youth, livestock and fisheries.
The new framework is the result of an extensive consultative process and is intended to provide a clear legal and institutional foundation for the development of MSMEs. It seeks to improve the identification and classification of businesses while facilitating their access to government support programmes, technical assistance and financing opportunities.
The government hopes the charter will create a more structured environment for small businesses, enabling them to contribute more effectively to economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.
The initiative comes at a time when the informal economy remains dominant in Mali. According to World Bank estimates, the informal sector accounts for around 90 percent of the country’s economic activity, employs 91.5 percent of the labour force and contributes between 40 percent and 60 percent of gross domestic product.
Small businesses operating in sectors such as retail, manufacturing, transport, handicrafts and services form the backbone of this economy, providing employment and income for millions of Malians, particularly women and young people.
Despite their importance, many enterprises continue to struggle with limited access to affordable credit and reliable electricity.
The World Bank’s 2024 Enterprise Surveys found that access to finance and electricity were the two biggest constraints facing formal businesses in Mali, cited by 38 percent and 37 percent of respondents respectively. For small enterprises, obtaining financing remains the most significant obstacle to growth and expansion.
The new charter builds on the regional Small and Medium Enterprise Charter adopted in 2015 by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which established common principles for promoting SMEs across member states.
The regional framework covers areas including access to public procurement opportunities, taxation, innovation, financing, business restructuring and the establishment of national SME promotion agencies.
However, Mali’s national charter is expected to tailor those principles to the country’s specific economic realities.
Authorities have yet to publish the detailed implementation guidelines that will determine how the charter will operate in practice.
These regulations are expected to define the criteria for classifying micro, small and medium enterprises, outline eligibility requirements for government incentives and financing schemes, and establish targeted support measures for women and youth entrepreneurs.
They are also expected to set out monitoring and evaluation mechanisms involving government institutions, employers’ organisations, chambers of commerce and financial institutions to ensure the charter delivers measurable results.
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Business leaders have welcomed the initiative as a step towards creating a more favourable environment for entrepreneurship, but many say its success will depend on effective implementation.
For thousands of entrepreneurs operating across Mali, the key test will be whether the new framework leads to easier access to credit, improved market opportunities, stronger technical support and greater institutional protection.
Analysts say the charter could help formalise more businesses and improve productivity if backed by sufficient funding, effective coordination and sustained political commitment.
With small enterprises playing a central role in employment and economic activity, the government’s ability to translate the charter into concrete benefits will be critical to strengthening the sector and supporting broader economic development.
