MTN, Microsoft, Ecobank, Leadway drive SME financial forum

Some multinationals have concluded plans for business owners in the small and medium scale enterprises category to improve their capacity for business development and growth with a capacity building programme known as SME Financial Forum, with the second edition of the forum scheduled for Lagos, June 3.

The forum is organised by SME Business Platform, which hosts Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Live radio programme in association with MTN Nigeria, on Inspiration 92.3FM.

The organisers of the event in a statement said the forum would bring together all the key stakeholders in the SME sub-sector of the economy to brainstorm and network to get the best option for financing businesses in the SME categories.

Already, key stakeholders that would be at the event include the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Association of

Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), among other numerous sub-groups under them.

Also there will be a heavy presence of financial institutions, investment clubs and corporate organisations at the event to make presentations of their support and corporate assistance and

opportunities available for SMEs in their organisations.

Some of the institutions include MTN Nigeria, Microsoft Nigeria, Ecobank plc, BoI Microfinance Bank Ltd, Heritage Bank, Leadway Assurance Ltd, Regcharles Finance and Capital Ltd, Vconnect Global Services, InterSwitch, Paris Klub, among several other corporate participants.

The event, which holds in the main auditorium, LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, Plot 10, Nurudeen Olowopopo Way, behind MKO Abiola Gardens, Alausa, Ikeja, is the second edition for this year.

The main objective of the Forum is to create an interactive platform to bridge knowledge and information gap between SME operators and providers of working capital and other financial assistance. Also a special feature of this second edition would be a training of the business owners in marketing and sales skills that would enhance their cash flow and make their businesses attractive to financial and capital providers.

Another key feature of this edition is a presentation of a new model of SME lending being packaged by Paris Klub in association with several banks under which some selected SMEs would qualify for bank loans without collateral.

It would also create an environment of mutual trust and friendliness between the business owners and the financiers for the purposes of meeting their business goals.

This edition of the Forum is expected to attract about 500 SME operators. The 2014 first edition held in February, attracted about 350 SMEs.