J.-M. Severino’s Intervention at the Africa SME Champions Forum

More than 300 African SMEs and 100 representatives of financial institutions are coming together these November 11^th and 12^th for the Africa SME Champions Forum. Investisseurs & Partenaires’ President, Jean-Michel Severino, takes part to a conference focused on SME’s financing.

In a context of steady economic growth in Africa, the Small and Medium Enterprises have a key role to play as social development and employment drivers. According to the data collected by the Forum, the SMEs account for 33% of the African continent GDP and 70% of the rural population employment.

The Forum held in Dakar is meant to be an opportunity for these SMEs to have a privileged access to financial institutions in order to facilitate the mobilization of their funding. 

 The Forum gathers, alongside the 300 SMEs selected by the organizers, a significant number of investors and financial institutions, both African and International. Several Development Banks, Commercial banks, and Investment Funds are participating.

Donald Kaberuka, President of the ADB, Albert Essien, Director of the Ecobank Group, Christian Adovelande, President of the BOAD are among the noted guest speakers present this year.

As I&P’s President, Jean-Michel Severino participates to the conference “Facilitating SME’s Financing : Accessing Intelligent Capital”. An issue of major importance in Africa, where SMEs face many difficulties to mobilize the appropriate financial resources to develop their activities..