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Bank of Africa targets SMEs in training drive

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Bank of Africa Kenya Managing Director Ronald Marambii. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Pan-African lender, Bank of Africa is eyeing to grow small and medium enterprises (SMEs) clientele by holding free monthly workshops.

The bank, with 30 branches since its launch in 2004, said the customer engagement forums dubbed SME Clinics aim to enable small businesses to tap new opportunities, especially within the government’s Big Four agenda on housing, healthcare, food security and manufacturing in counties.

Managing director Ronald Marambii said experts would engage SMEs in tackling challenges that hamper growth via a one-on-one interaction to help them scale up. “The concept was developed a few years back and we are focusing on a topical area that will impart knowledge on scaling up business performance,” he said.

Pharmaceuticals, oil and petroleum, farming, real estate, construction firms and other businesses contributing close to half of the gross domestic product are targeted in the year-long drive.

The move comes after another pan-African lender, Ecobank, launched a platform where Kenyan entrepreneurs can trade with other SMEs across its 33 markets in Africa.

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