SBI Interim CEO Calls for Stronger Partnerships to Build Growth-Ready Businesses Across Africa

The Small Business Institute’s (SBI) Interim CEO, Ms Carol Keshy, has called for stronger collaboration between business leaders, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and corporate partners to help African small businesses overcome barriers to growth and become more competitive.

Speaking at the launch of the Africa Business Engineering Collective, Ms Keshy delivered an address titled “Building Businesses That Are Ready to Grow,” highlighting the need to move beyond celebrating entrepreneurship towards creating the practical support systems that enable businesses to survive, become profitable, create jobs and achieve sustainable growth.

Ms Keshy noted that despite Africa’s wealth of entrepreneurial talent, innovation and technical expertise, many small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) continue to face challenges accessing finance, markets, infrastructure, skills, technology and business networks. She emphasised that businesses at different stages of development require tailored support, from starting and formalising a business to stabilising operations, scaling and sustaining long-term growth.

A key message of her address was that collaboration must translate into practical action. Ms Keshy encouraged businesses to engage with the Africa Business Engineering Collective and highlighted the SBI’s advocacy role in bringing the challenges experienced by small businesses to the attention of relevant government departments and institutions. She noted that complex regulatory and compliance processes can prevent businesses from operating effectively, even when entrepreneurs are willing to comply.

Ms Keshy also called on corporate partners to go beyond treating enterprise and supplier development as a compliance exercise. She encouraged businesses to open their supply chains and procurement opportunities to smaller enterprises, creating meaningful opportunities for them to participate in the economy.

Her address reinforced the importance of coordinated partnerships, practical business support and responsive policies in creating an enabling environment for small businesses to grow and contribute to Africa’s economic development.

Watch the full address: Building Businesses That Are Ready to Grow – Africa Business Engineering Collective