Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (Smedi) launched service charter will promote efficiency and effective delivery of services.

Smedi chief executive officer Rhodrick Chattaika said in Lilongwe on Friday that the charter is an assurance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that the institution will offer some of its services for free as it strives to develop small businesses.

The service charter will help SMEs with the registration of their businesses for free and training services except where there is a specific training that is demanded by a particular SME and training such as preparing of a business proposal, helping them accessing the markets, among others.

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism director of SMEs development Wiskies Nkombezi described the charter as a social contract with its clients. The charter has been hailed for its convenience as the services it offers to SMEs are free of charge.