PSFU ANNUAL SME / MEMBERS DAY 21ST -23RD MARCH 2013

         
    
THEME: EMPOWERING SMES TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

The Annual SME Event is part of the Annual Member Days activities and is intended to provide information, networking and capacity building for the PSFU membership by bringing together various actors in the value chain. This year’s theme is mainly focused on financial service provision and Business Development Support for SME survival and success. The event will take place from Thursday 21st – Saturday 23rd March 2013 at the UMA Main Exhibition Hall. PSFU has been annually holding this activity for the past six years with an average daily attendance of 1,000 SMEs.

The objective of the event is to assist MSMEs have a better understanding of the availability of financial services and BDS and how they can effectively be accessed. The event also aims at raising awareness on the reform process aimed at reducing the cost of doing business for the private sector that is currently underway, and will also feature sessions on business formalisation. While many MSMEs need guidance on alternative forms of financing and how best to prepare and present their investment projects to potential financiers, a lot more still remain informal due to the constraints associated with business formalization and tax registration. Efforts to reduce and simplify the administrative burden on MSMEs and the formalisation of the sector continue to be at the heart of the Government of Uganda’s development agenda.

In order to ensure that the Private Sector owns these reforms, PSFU has been earmarked to take the lead on managing the sensitization and awareness campaigns of these reforms, as well as ensuring that the private sector act as evaluators of the reform process as implementation of the reforms is being effected.
Justification of the Event

We believe this event will provide a platform for SMEs to get more information about the available financing opportunities, Business Development support, encourage those that are still not registered to formalise their businesses, get updates on investment and asset financing, Training opportunities, shares and stocks and other Insurance related products. The event should also provide PSFU with feedback from the private sector and civil society on how the licensing regime can be improved to facilitate the running of business, ahead of the full implementation of the reforms.
This event will act as a yard stick for addressing a number of challenges SMEs in Uganda face. It will also provide an opportunity for the participants to have one-on-one meetings with the various Bank officers, consultants, corporate managers and service providers who offer financial services and business development support to SMEs.

Main Business Sessions to include;
 

• Training on Financial Literacy for SMEs that need the support
• Available Opportunities for SMEs to do Business by Uganda Investment Authority
• Business Licensing Reform process
• Navigation of the e-licensing portal and citizen feedback portal
• Business opportunities for SMEs in Oil sector
• Banking Gallery – face to face with the bankers
• One to One Sessions with the Business Doctors  
• Nurturing SMEs to become bankable and profitable
• The BUDS Program funded by DFID
• Insurance  ‘A must for a successful Business’
• How do we eradicate counterfeits and their impact on SMEs
• How Quality Management can transform your business
• How to access the Agricultural Funds
• Transforming the ordinary Salary earner into an effective business owner/SME. Testimonies from salary earners who are successfully running private businesses
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•  Agro Business, as a business option
• How business associations are contributing to SME growth
• “Using customer service to transform your business”
•  Mobile Money and Internet services
• Learn more about Shares, Stocks from the experts
•  Managing a Family Business
• Social Media and how it can transform your business

Participating organisations
 
Over 60 organisations who offer financial related services like; business registration & licensing, leasing, mortgage, money transfer, insurance, savings, Stock exchange, Share sales services, targeting small and medium enterprises are expected to exhibit during this event.  Target exhibitors will include:
1.    Banks and MDIS
2.    Insurance companies
3.    Telecom companies
4.    Leasing companies
5.    BDS Consultancy  firms
6.    Investment management companies
7.    Brokerage firms
8.    IT Companies
9.    Marketing and Advertisement Agencies
10.    BUDS Program (DFID and ERT)
11.    Property managers and real estate developers
12.    Importers of Machinery  and equipments
13.    Government Agencies (UIA ,UEBP,UNBS,CMA, URSB)
14.    Business Associations (KACITA, AMFIU,UWEAL e.t.c.)

Target audience  

• The Business Community
• Individuals owning or running a medium, small and micro enterprise
• Association and Development network leaders
• Salary earners
• Individuals who want to start their own businesses

Over 5,000 people are expected to attend this event.

The three day interaction encompasses mini exhibitions with motivational speakers and business clinics featuring some of the successful SMEs and International SMEs that have managed to excel in the international markets.

Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) works to ensure that it undertakes capacity building for the private sector membership through training and the provision of business development services.  This event therefore fulfils that mandate.  Founded in 1995, Private Sector Foundation Uganda membership has grown up to 170 members.

Entrance is free for all.