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Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industries, has lauded the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for its commitment towards the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the world. The commitment, he said, had led to the SMEs playing pivotal roles in the growth of economies of countries. Mr Iddrisu was addressing the opening of a two- day workshop organised by a team of experts from UNCTAD to educate Ghanaians on UNCTAD�s Entrepreneurship Policy Framework. The Entrepreneurship Policy Framework of UNCTAD provided a template and a practical guidance tool for any country wishing to develop a dedicated policy and strategy for the promotion of SMEs. It identified six policy areas which would have a direct impact on entrepreneurship in any county that would adopt it. These included Optimising the Regulatory Environment, Enhancing Entrepreneurship Education and Skills Development, Facilitating Technology Exchange and Innovation, Improving Access to Finance and Promoting Awareness and Networking among Persons Engaged in SMEs to share ideas. Ms Tatiana Krylova, Head, Enterprise Branch, UNCTAD, said the organisation was established in 1964 to promote the development and friendly integration of developing countries and transitional economies into the world�s economy. Topics treated include �A Guidance Tool for the Development of an Entrepreneurship Policy and Strategy for the Republic of Ghana�, �Developing a National Strategy and Policy for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and SMEs: The Malaysian experience�. Some of the Institutions which attended the workshop included National Service Secretariat, Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, University of Ghana Business School, Empretec Ghana, Food and Drugs Authority and Ghana Standards Authority.