Vol. 5 No. 08 (2025): Volume 05 Issue 08

Small business and private entrepreneurship are the main locomotives of the modern economy. Their organization and development is one of the main issues facing the government. This article provides a retrospective analysis of the formation and development of small business and private entrepreneurship in the Namangan region over the years, as well as its role in the development of sectors and industries.

Small-scale businesses are pivotal drivers of economic growth, employment generation, and innovation in developing economies. However, their long-term survival and prosperity are intrinsically linked to their ability to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage in dynamic and often challenging market environments. This article explores the profound influence of strategic entrepreneurship on the competitiveness of small-scale businesses, with a specific focus on the South-South region of Nigeria. Strategic entrepreneurship, a synergistic integration of entrepreneurial (opportunity-seeking) and strategic (advantage-seeking) behaviors, offers a powerful framework for businesses to simultaneously identify novel opportunities and develop sustainable competitive positions. Drawing upon resource-based theory and entrepreneurial orientation concepts, this study synthesizes existing literature to elucidate how strategic entrepreneurial practices – encompassing innovation, proactiveness, risk-taking, strategic renewal, and resource leveraging – can enhance market responsiveness, foster unique capabilities, and ultimately improve the competitive posture of small-scale enterprises. The article highlights the contextual factors prevalent in South-South Nigeria that necessitate such an approach and concludes with recommendations for business owners and policymakers aimed at fostering a more strategically entrepreneurial and competitive SME sector.