The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Craftsmanship of Guinea (CCIAG) has officially announced the 12th edition of the Pan-African Bank and SME Fair, scheduled to take place in Conakry from November 20-23. The event aims to bring together 25 countries, 5,000 participants, and 100 exhibitors, with Côte d'Ivoire as the guest country of honor. The fair will focus on financing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and strengthening their contribution to economic development.
The event's theme, "Simandou 2040, lever of the ZLECAf: financing ambition, structuring production, connecting SMEs and propelling African champions," reflects the goal of improving access to financing for SMEs and promoting innovative financial solutions. The fair will feature banks, microfinance institutions, fintech companies, guarantee funds, development and investment banks, financial market actors, and insurance companies. The CCIAG aims to create a platform for dialogue between financial institutions and SMEs to facilitate access to financing and enhance their contribution to economic development.
Mamadou Baldé, president of the CCIAG, explained that the organization decided to host the fair in Guinea despite not being a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). He emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities to bring the private sector closer to financial institutions and promote enterprise development. Baldé also expressed gratitude to President Mamadi Doumbouya and Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah for their support and facilitation of the event.
Youépéné Hermann Nagola, secretary general of the Pan-African Bank and SME Fair, described the event as a platform for expression and consultation between enterprises and their financial partners. He stressed that the fair aims to address the needs of SMEs, which face difficulties in accessing financing and structuring. Nagola also announced several activities, including panels on fintech and artificial intelligence, as well as free masterclasses for entrepreneurs.
Ibrahima Diané, vice-president of the steering committee (COPIL), highlighted the importance of aligning the event with the orientations of the Simandou 2040 program and enabling national enterprises to benefit from economic opportunities. He emphasized that the fair seeks to create a dialogue between banks and SMEs to allow Guinean SMEs to benefit from the returns of this major development program.
The event also aims to prepare Guinean enterprises for commercial opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The fair will provide a platform for SMEs to network with financial institutions, enhance their capacities, and promote partnerships between enterprises and financial institutions. The CCIAG and its partners hope that the event will contribute to the growth and development of SMEs in Guinea and across Africa.
Key stakeholders, including ministers and business leaders, have expressed their support for the event, emphasizing its potential to drive economic growth and development in Guinea and the region. The fair is expected to generate significant interest and participation from across Africa, and its outcomes are anticipated to have a positive impact on the development of SMEs and the broader economy.
Key points
- The 12th edition of the Pan-African Bank and SME Fair will focus on financing opportunities for SMEs and strengthening their contribution to economic development.
- The event aims to bring together 25 countries, 5,000 participants, and 100 exhibitors, with Côte d'Ivoire as the guest country of honor.
- The fair's theme reflects the goal of improving access to financing for SMEs and promoting innovative financial solutions.
