Stakeholders in the Nigerian small and medium enterprise (SME) sector are set for the 2013 edition of the Business Day annual small and medium enterprise forum which focuses on how Nigerian SMEs can tap into the new growth strategy to grow their businesses profitability.
The conference with the theme ‘ICT, Internet& Social Media Marketing Platforms: New Growth Strategies for SMEs’ holds today at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s conference sponsored by Access Bank and Vconnect with support of Connect Nigeria will have its keynote address on how SMEs can benefit from social media platform integration, delivered by Deepankar Rustagi, co-founder and general manager, Vconnect.com.
Augustine Edet, executive director and chief operating officer will speak on ‘growing your Business through Social Media Platform’.
SMEs have proved to be catalysts of economic growth of many countries, providing the foundation for the entire economy and its contribution to economic growth cannot be overemphasized, analysts say.
Given the strategic importance of the SME sector to job creation, the success of SMEs gaining business leverage from the internet is critical to the future of local, regional and global economies.
It is argued that SMEs stand to benefit significantly from the opportunities that the internet can offer businesses. Therefore, its use is widely seen as critical for the competitiveness of SMEs in the emerging global market.
Suffice to say that SMEs can leverage its reach to develop a huge customer base, improve market share and increase profit.
Analysts say a robust information and communication technology, improved broadband services (internet) and social media platforms, would no doubt enable SMEs in Nigeria sustain growth, efficiency and save cost.
Panelists for the forum will be drawn from government agencies for SMEs and seasoned professionals among others who have distinguished themselves in supporting the sector through their wealth of experience, skills and knowledge.
The expected target audience would include SMEs in manufacturing, service, logistics, agriculture, ICT, construction, engineering, fabrication and food processing and storage, as well as women in business and management, cooperative societies, SME consultancies, banks, insurance companies, development and donor agencies.
NONSO NDUMANYA
