BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND SMALLAND MEDIUM-SCALE ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE IN ETSAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.

This study was carried out to examine the impact of business environment on the performance of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) within Etsako East Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State. Despite their critical role in grassroots economic development, SMEs in this region face distinct challenges, including infrastructure deficits, limited financial access, policy/regulatory environment and volatility in the local market. A quantitative research was employed in the study. The findings suggest that while internal managerial competencies are vital, external environmental factors in the form of socio-cultural dimension that better local advertisement and informal credit facilities, as well as infrastructural reliability, regulatory policy and flexible bank and financial institution conditionality which serves as measurement of SMEs performance and moderators of enterprise growth. The paper concludes with evidence-based recommendations for local government authorities, Banks and financial institutions as well as small and medium scale business owners, all at minimizing infant business mortality.