Senior policy-makers, business leaders and owners will meet in Kenya next month to promote trade and investment between small and medium businesses across the Commonwealth
Senior policy-makers, business leaders and owners will meet in Kenya next month to promote trade and investment between small and medium businesses across the Commonwealth.
Representatives from more than 200 organisations will attend the Second Intra-Commonwealth SME Trade Summit in Nairobi from 28 to 29 May.
The summit is organised by the Intra-Commonwealth Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association (ICSA) in partnership with the Secretariat and Kenya’s Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General will give a special address on the morning of the first day. She said: “Intra Commonwealth trade continues to grow in spite of the slowdown in world trade growth and is now over 20 percent of Commonwealth countries total trade with the world. A strengthened intra-Commonwealth trade and investment cooperation with SMEs at the centre has the potential to revive global trade and growth, and contribute towards advancing the trade-related aspects of the SDGs”.
The ICSA was created to provide a platform for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) exporters and importers to meet regularly, build awareness of existing global standards, and encourage regional and international investments in member states. The inaugural summit took place two years ago in India.
The Second Intra-Commonwealth SME Trade Summit will focus on two major themes of Access to finance for MSMEs and Digital inclusion. The Summit will enable businesses showcase their products and services and network with private and public sector leaders and the media to forge new business relationships and position their businesses as credible partners within the Commonwealth.
The following sectors have been identified for trade and investment promotion by the ICSA:
- Textiles and clothing
- Gems and jewellery
- Leather and leather products
- Agro-processed products
- Light manufacturing
- Packaging
- Information and technology
- E-Health and medical equipment
To attend, SMEs can register here: https://goo.gl/forms/xvhJAPWA3aF1mAC73
