Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Department was created by the Federal Ministry of Industry’s Circular, Ref No. 81.119/IND/Estab.158, dated 25th April, 1999; with focus and emphasis on promotion/development of SMEs as the only vehicle and viable option for attaining rapid industrialization of our nation’s rural area development.
A vibrant MSMEs sector is critical in investment, growth, employment generation, wealth creation and poverty reduction. By its less capital intensive and high labour absorption, a well-planned MSMEs sector can make significant contributions to rural industrialization and employment generation.
For ease of operations, the Department is divided into the State Credit and Grant Scheme Administration, Loan Recovery, Extension Service/Monitoring and Evaluation, UNDP/Foreign Supports to SMEs, Industrial Estates/Layouts and Statistics/Information Units.

The department of Co-operative is one of the operational arms of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its functions are as follows:

• Registration of Co-operative societies
• Supervision of Co-operative societies
• Engaging in arbitration between members of a co-operative society.
• Involved in dispute resolution among co-operatives
• Building capacity of Co-operatives

The vision of this department is to emancipate the business community in Rivers State especially and create a medium for global competitiveness. Its functions include:

• Inspection of business places
• Registration of business places according to the Rivers State Registration of Business Places Law, 1976 as amended.
• Organize Trade Fairs in collaboration.
• Engage in export promotion activities.
• Arrange and organize data for the publication of the state Trade Directory or Yellow Pages.

This department is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining good quality produce in the state according to the Rivers State Produce (Enforcement of Standard of Quality) Law (Amendment) Edict No. 6 of 1971. Functions:

• Registration of produce merchants, Processors/Millers.
• Grading of classified produce (Schedule Crops) for quality.
• Enforce the payment of appropriate produce inspection fees.
• Rendering of pest control services to public and private sectors.

This department is saddled with the responsibility of formulating industrial policies, manage and regulate all government owned companies and businesses, coordinate and initiate business ideas for the state. Functions:

• Formulating Industrial policies
• Initiating and coordinating business ideas.
• Managing and regulating all government owned companies and businesses.

The department of Administration is responsible for the central supervision, discipline, promotion and management of the entire personnel of the ministry as may be directed by the Permanent Secretary.

The Planning Research and Statistics Department is saddled with the responsibility of collecting, keeping and management of all statistical data for the ministry. The functions include but not limited to the following: Collect information from other department for the purpose of preparing annual budget, keeps nominal roll and carry out periodic updates on the nominal roll, carry out other functions as may be assigned by the Permanent Secretary or Honourable Commissioner.