SMExpo 2015 to boost trade and investments in Africa
Between September 24 and 26, 2015, over 10,000 investors and visitors will besiege the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, to participate in SMEXPO 2015, where over 100 Exhibitors will showcase a multiple range of manufactured goods and other services of key players in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) landscape.
The event is expected to boost Nigeria’s and Africa’s economy as it will showcase MSME products and services under one roof.
SMEXPO 2015 is organised by Smedia Integrated, publishers of SMEDIGEST, with the support and partnership of key industry stakeholders/participants/regulators like the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Association of Small Business Owners (ASSBON) and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) and Fate Foundation, among others. The event encapsulates four business activity segments namely; the exhibition, the conference/ seminar/ workshop, the SME showcase and the awards/ gala nite, during the three-day event.
SMEXPO 2015 is themed ‘SMEs Development: Key Steps for Stimulating Rapid Growth in Africa’s Bourgeoning Economies’.
Speaking to journalists during a press briefing at the SMEXPO Lagos office recently, Dan Premo, team head of the SMEXPO 2015 project, said the event will impact and stimulate growth of trade and investments in the SMEs sector.
According to Premo, the event will bring together a diverse segment of businesses, including MSMEs, small scale industries, banks offering credit and financing services to SMEs, telcos offering comparative products and services for SMEs, micro finance banks (MFBs), federal and state agencies supporting and financing MSMEs, among others.
According to the project’s team head, start- ups and small businesses will, at the three-day event, be afforded the open opportunities to mix, mingle and network with investors, visitors, buyers and sellers as well as their growing and relatively bigger business counterparts to explore new openings for networking with the aims of positioning for immediate and future gains in trade and investments.
He said among notable speakers being confirmed for the conference and seminar/ workshop segments of the event include Pat Utomi, Ndidi Nwuneli, Ausbeth Ajagu, Toki Mabogunje, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Nnoli Edozien and a host of other experts grounded in the global trends in the SMEs business landscape.
SMEXPO 2015 will culminate into the awards/gala nite on the evening of the third day where the ‘Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs of Excellence’ will be unveiled preparatory to their conferment with ‘The Distinguished Achievement Awards for Excellence for Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria 2015’ , at the Global Women’s Entrepreneurs Day, in November 2015.