Delegates arrival and registration. Networking sessions starts  

A recent National Economic Survey report by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in 2017 indicated that SMEs constitute 98 percent of all business in Kenya , create 30 percent of the jobs annually as well as contribute 3 percent of the GDP.

CBK data suggests that up to KSh 200 Billion was owed to SME businesses by the national government by the end of the 2017/2018 Financial Year, with as much as KSh 25 Billion worth of those pending bills directly contributing to non-performing loans.

Are we stifling private sector growth and will the Big 4 Agenda truly expand opportunities for MSMEs?

Ms. Lucy Muchoki, CEO, KAAA and PanAAC	Ms. Joyce Njogu Head of Consulting, Kenya Association of Manufacturers	Dr Patrick Ngugi Njoroge, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya	Mr. H.B. Okeyo, AG. Secretary of Industrialization, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives.

11.50 – 12.00 Case Study 1: Women-Owned 12.00 – 12.10 Case Study 2: Youth-Owned

Agriculture is key to Kenya's economy and forms its backbone, contributing 26 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and another 27 per cent of GDP indirectly through linkages with other sectors. More than 75 percent of Kenyans make some part of their living in agriculture. Productivity has gradually stagnated in recent years despite continuous population growth depriving the country to food security. Maximum yields have not been achieved in Kenya’s about 20 percent land suitable for farming.

Currently 46% of the population live on less than 1 USD a day, 36.5% are food insecure and 35% of children under five are stunted (chronically malnourished) in Kenya. Kenya's population has increased significantly and at the current rate of growth, it will be reaching 81 million in 2039.

What opportunities should SMEs be looking out for to build scalable businesses in the AgriBusiness and AgroIndustry Value Chains?

Ms. Ann Mwangi, Founder Medev Dairy Farm	Ms. Elizabeth Mudogo, Agriculture digital business product manager Safaricom, Digifarm	Joseph Ng’etich Director General , Agriculture and Food Authority

 

What are the available SME financing models in Kenya? Can SMEs in the Agriculture sector access viable financing to move them beyond subsistence and smallholder farming? Increased access to finance in agricultural value chains can boost yields and promote value addition.

The Kenya Vision 2030 underscores value addition and marketing efficiency as one of the priority areas under the economic pillar. Limited value addition to commodities implies reduced net returns to farmers limiting agricultural financing and denial of other multiplier benefits. Indeed, export of raw produce implies the giving away or export of the jobs to our export markets. The government is committed to build capacity in product value addition in six value chains: coffee, horticulture, honey, fish, milk and mangoes. What are the SME opportunities in accessing finance in these value chains?

Maarten Susan,Regional Director, FACTS	Arthur Muchangi, Ag. Director Retail & Business Banking Division, Co-operative Bank Kenya	Mr. Lucas Meso,MBS ,Managing Director, Agricultural Finance Corporation

Grant Brooke Twiga Foods	Sponsor Showcase University of Nairobi

How can we optimize the Research, Development & Innovation environment for SMEs? They say, if you don’t innovate, you are dead. It is very difficult for big companies to innovate and this is another big opportunity for SMEs.

Because of globalization of markets with a higher rivalry environment, rapid technological changes and shorter product and technology lifecycles, many firms, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), should focus on being innovative which is the key driver for sustainable competitive advantage.

SMEs constitute 98 percent of all business in Kenya , create 30 percent of the jobs annually as well as contribute 3 percent of the GDP. Innovation could be the implementation of a new or significantly improved product (e.g. change in product properties), process (e.g. changed delivery methods), marketing method (e.g. new product packaging) or organizational method (e.g. changes in workplace organization) in business practices, workplace organization, or external relations. Are our SMEs being innovative enough? What are some the enablers to drive innovation in our SME sector?
Panelist

Prof Bitange Ndemo – University Of Nairobi Business School	Alice Migwi - Managing Director , Migwi Farms	Ms Lucy Lau BighamCEO - Tosheka Textiles	Gaita Kariuki ,Co-Founder Selina Wamucii	Florence Kimata ,SME Advisor, Ministry of Trade, cooperatives & Industry

 

Delegates arrival and registration. Networking sessions starts  

SSA is today the second fastest growing region in the world. We should all agree that Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in trading with itself if we are to shape our own future.Currently, only about 12% of Africa's trade is intra-regional. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) includes the 26 countries that are members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC), and Southern African Community (SADC). The TFTA covers a population of 632 million and a combined GDP of $1.3 trillion. The area spans 17.3 million square kilometers, which is nearly twice the size of China or the United States. What does this opportunity mean SMEs? What is the future of trade in the next 10 years in Africa?

Mr. Nic Nesbitt Chairman, KEPSA	Dr. Chris Kiptoo PS International Trade	Ms Wangechi Muriuki CEO,Invest in Africa(IIA)	Sachen Gudka Chairman ,Kenya Association of Manufacturer

SMEs must develop strategies to build strength and expand into new domestic and export markets. Some of the top areas critical for future success are:

• Applying technology
• Agility
• Accelerated innovation
• Attracting and retaining talent

These are distinct areas of advantage for SMEs due to their size and can be exploit to strengthen market position.
Technology is becoming rapidly affordable, with cloud technologies for example allowing incremental investments in IT. In an age where customers are increasingly demanding new, bespoke products and services delivered nearly instantly, companies must adjust course and scale operations quickly, this is something that SMEs can do while large incumbents naturally find difficult. If you don’t innovate, you are dead. It is very difficult for big companies to innovate and this is another big opportunity for SMEs. Entrepreneurship is becoming cool. It is a generational shift and SMEs tap into graduates of top business and universities by designing attractive alternatives to life in a big corporation. What local support is available to set SME manufacturers up for success? What factors will drive enhanced manufacturing?

Joyce Njogu, Head of KAM Consulting	Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) Representative	Kenya National Trading Corporation Representative

We are at a time when concerted efforts are being made across the continent by government and private sector associations to deepen economic integration and boost intra-regional trade and cross-border investments. Currently, only about 12% of Africa's trade is intra-regional. It is 22% for South America, 40% for North America, 50% for Asia and 70% for Western Europe. The tariff liberation of 60–85% will have a significant impact in facilitate the cross-border flow of goods and services.

The combined GDP of Africa is projected to reach $29 trillion by 2050, which would be equal to the current combined GDP of the EU and the US.

Late Dr. Calestous Juma indicated that the TFTA is a key landmark in Africa's economic history. It ranks in significance with the independence of Ghana in 1957, the creation of the Organisation for African Unity in 1963, and its reinvention as the African Union in 2002. To paraphrase Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, the best way to learn to be a continental free trade area is to be a continental free trade area.

How can we leverage the power of tech to accelerate intra-african trade? What are the low lying fruits? What does being mobile first and now mobile only continent mean to intra-regional trade? Africa now has over 453 million Internet users, can we begin now?

David Macharia, Creative Lead, Versatile Photographers	Joseph Ayieko – Assistant Manager Business Advisory Services, KIE	Chebet Mutai – Founder Wazawazi	Chris Rumenda, Head of MarketPlace Jumia Kenya	Wandia Gichuru, Managing Director Vivo Activewear

There are enormous benefits of supply-chain collaboration. Future supply-chain collaboration will go beyond the commercial areas such as in-store programs and merchandising to include “supply-chain flows and processes” and “demand planning and fulfillment”. Enhanced supply-chain collaboration between manufacturers and retailers benefits can be substantial, from reduced stock outs, costs and consumer experience Panelist

Daniel Gathua CEO Tuskys Supermarkets	Meshack Alloys CEO Sendy