Kenyan pan-african lender, Bank of Africa is looking to grow small and medium enterprises (SMEs) clientele by holding free monthly workshops. The bank which has 30 branches since its launch in 2004, said the customer engagement forums named SME Clinics aims to enable small businesses to utilize new opportunities, mainly within the government’s Big Four agenda on housing, healthcare, food security and manufacturing in counties.

The Managing director, Ronald Marambii stated that experts would engage SMEs in tackling challenges that hinder growth through a one-on-one interaction to help them level up. He said “The concept was developed a few years back and we are focusing on a topical area that will impart knowledge on scaling up business performance.”

Pharmaceuticals, oil and petroleum, farming, real estate, construction firms and other businesses that contribute close to half of the gross domestic product are targeted all year round. The initiative came along after pan-African lender, Ecobank, launched a platform where Kenyan entrepreneurs can trade with other SMEs across its 33 markets in Africa.