(MENAFN Press) Endorsed by The Pan African Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PACCI), and supported by Micro Finance South Africa (MFSA) and The Banking Association of South Africa (IOB), SME Africa 2012 will be held on 17 - 18 October at the Sandton Sun Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.
SME Africa 2012 will convene industrial heads and eminent leaders to brainstorm how the SME ecosystem works in the Africa. Some of the topic of discussions include the, challenges towards business start ups, best practices and successful stories in the region's SME sector. The conference aims to establish SMEs through various mechanisms, government initiatives towards boosting the SME sector and key projects lined up for SMEs to grow their business.
The honorary keynote speaker - Alhaji Sanusi Maijama'a Ajiya from PACCI and the Executive Council Member National Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA), will open the conference. In his keynote speech he will discuss the African SME landscape, emphasising on the contribution of SMEs in the economic growth, current challenhttp://www.onlineprnews.com/thank-you-2ges faced by this sector and how regulations can work in coping with such challenges.
The panel discussions will revolve around how can Banks overcome traditional barriers to financing & banking SMEs and will examine if banks truly understand and value SMEs.
The interactive panel discussion, entitled Challenges faced by Banks & Financial Institutions In Facilitating Funds To SMEs, will feature panellists such as Amrei Botha, Head SME Banking from Standard Bank Africa; Sisa Ntshona, Head: Enterprise Development from Absa Bank; and Mark Paper, Chief Operating Officer from Business Partners International
Koenie Slabbert, Chief Operating Officer for Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and Richard Muteti, Director of Small & Medium Enterprise Support East Africa (SMES-EA) will panel a discussion on growth engines for SME Africa, where they will elaborate on the ways to tap the rural SME segment to participate in governmental councils and bridge the gap of banks and financial assistance for their development through proper knowledge and education.
Over 20 speakers will bring forth related presentations, relevant case studies and expert advisory panel discussions to understand business strategies, identify complexities, derive commerce solutions and work in correlation with each other to enhance business processes towards a substantial economic growth through SMEs.
In just two days Fleming Gulf Conferences, through SME Africa 2012, aims to boost the developing African SME sector and contribute towards its robust economic growth.
