Harare, Zimbabwe (News of The South) – The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD will co-host the 6th Africa SME Champions Forum set to run from 12 -13 November 2019 in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Johannesburg October 16, 2019 – The two-day forum will bring together 400 of Africa’s best high growth SMEs, large corporations, key financial institutions, experts in business development for SMEs and policy makers. The purpose of the forum is to create African champions and the millions of jobs that are missing. This is being achieved by building the capacity of SME leaders, getting the SMEs ready for financing, creating new market opportunities and discuss policies to create the right business environment.
SMEs contribute over 45% of employment in Africa, they represent 90% of private businesses, they account for 33% of the continent’s GDP and they employ 70% of the continent’s rural population. Despite this, only 20% of them have access to credit which limits their potential for growth.
As part of its integrated approach to development in African, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) places special emphasis on harnessing Africa’s youthful demographic dividend for job creation, employment and economic growth, at which SMEs lie at the core.
Africa SME Champions Forum Chairman, Mr Didier Acouetey says, “This partnership with AUDA-NEPAD means that we are putting inclusive growth and job creation in Africa at the centre of the continent’s agenda. This economic growth lies in SMEs. Our commitment towards creating the right environment will ensure that they grow faster and secure Africa’s future.”
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, AUDA-NEPAD CEO emphasises that, “Africa, as a continent of tremendous wealth, has enormous untapped potential. Africa is now looking at its own regional and internal markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area, meaning that even at the current time of global uncertainty, a great opportunity for Africa exists, especially for African-owned SMEs that form the backbone of our economies.”
The Forum will convene key renowned speakers, business and financing experts and SMEs from over 20 countries across Africa. Delegates will enjoy a rich programme built around high level sessions, roundtables, thematic masterclasses and sectoral sessions on business opportunities in Africa.
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