Uganda to host October talks for African SME recovery after Covid-19 shock

September 29, 2022 in Business, Investment by Editor

Acouetey says their partnership with the BADEA will be a catalyst in accelerating the development of the SMEs across Africa.

On October 6 and 7 in Kampala, an estimated 300 delegates made up of small business owners, will converge for the 7th edition of the Africa SME Champions Forum hosted by the Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA). Co-hosted by the Uganda Development Bank Limited, the talks come in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to recover lost ground.

Empowered by AfricSearch, the participants will discuss reconnecting African SMEs for enhanced cooperation, alliance building and partnerships for accelerated growth in the company of institutional funding organisations, venture capitalists, angel investors and ecosystem builders.

AfricSearch is a human resources consulting firm founded in 1996 and As a Group, the firm has offices in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Cotonou (Benin), Dakar (Senegal), Douala (Cameroon), Johannesburg (South Africa), Lomé (Togo), Paris (France), Washington DC (USA); and correspondents in Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

The Chairman of the Forum and Group President of AfricSearch Didier Acouetey said, “SMEs play an important role in Africa’s economic development. They provide 70% of jobs created, over 60% of the continent’s GDP and they are an engine for transformation and innovation. Therefore, investing in them means we are investing in Africa’s future. Our partnership with the Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA) will be a catalyst in accelerating the development of the SMEs across Africa.”

The event will also see the launch of the Africa SME Growth Fund and the Africa SME Growth Initiative. In addition to that various awards will be given for the SME of the year, the Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Start up of the year, Financial Institution of the Year (that has supported the most SMEs), A Special Recognition Award and the MSME Coalition Award.

The Africa SME Champions Forum is the foremost gathering dedicated to supporting the growth of African SMEs. It has been running since 2014 with the objective of improving the SME landscape and providing growth support to SMEs – the engine of the African economies. The forum brings practical and operational solutions to the financing and growth challenges faced by SMEs in Africa.

Features of the forum include High-Level Roundtable meetings, Master Classes given by recognized experts who will provide operational and strategic tools to SMEs leader and B2B sessions. During the forum, time will also be set aside for tailored-made consulting for interested SME owners and advice for start-ups.