The 2nd edition of the Africa SME Champions Forum is set to open in Nairobi, Kenya onTuesday November 17.
The two-day event is expected to bring together 300 SMEs from more than 30 African countries, 100 financial institutions, 50 Start-Up SMEs from more than 50 sectors.
50 Experts will discuss key issues related to SMEs access to finance and markets, and sustainable growth environment for African SMEs.
Among the keynote speakers will be Managing Director of SME BANK, Union Savings and Loans, Philip Oti- Mensah
With over 12 years experience in SME Banking and commitment to SME development, Phillip has influenced the growth of many small entrepreneurs to succeed.
Since January 2013, Philip has also led the transformation of the SME focused bank, Union Savings and Loans into a strong reliable brand, with visible employee-focused development, winning several awards locally and internationally, including the Best SME finance company ,fastest growing company and emerging brand of the year 2014(Ghana).
The Africa SME Champions Forum is being organized with the support of AfricSearch, African Guarantee Fund, IFC, Ecobank, African Development Bank, among others.
During the two-day forum, through high-level conferences, thematic master classes, business to business meetings, personalized counselling sessions, SME managers will receive the best recommendations for furthering their development and facilitating the mobilization of their funding.
The forum will also recognize, through the Africa SME Champions Awards, the SME of the Year, the most innovative Start Up and the Financial Institution providing the best support to SMEs.
The Africa SME Champions Forum was launched to celebrate forward-thinking SMEentrepreneurs who are building strongly financed and well-governed companies that are on the cutting-edge of becoming new Champions of Africa’s private sector, and Financial Institutions which have included SMEs in their strategy.
