surprising challanges?

(windhoek, namibia) i went to an SME (small & medium enterprises) expo today. the expo was hosted by a nonprofit called 'SMEs compete', who provides services to SMEs. the LSI foundation is giving a grant to SMEs compete to provide training to SMEs in several rural areas. at this expo there were stands set up for the SMEs to display their businesses and also a round table discussion took place to give aspiring entrepreneurs advice.

one of the SMEs i spoke with, CTC (an IT services company), said their two biggest challenges were
1. they are black.
2. they are young.
imagine that, in a country that is run by a majority black government (the same government that achieved liberation and independence). the same government that is trying hard to address the huge youth unemployment rate. my point is not that the government has done something wrong. my point is two fold: (1) this country so needs the 'rich white people' but it is a fine line to encourage them to conform and care about the 'have-nots' and chasing them away. (2) it is a hard thing to change the mindset of a group of people, any group of people, just because you want development.