On Friday 19th October, KCB Bank Uganda hosted a half day business workshop for Entrepreneurs at Skyz Hotel, Naguru.
Business owners, operators and managers were exposed to a lot of business knowledge and advantages of networking opportunities and trips outside Uganda that the bank holds annually with the last trip taken in Bavaria – Germany and next trip to be hosted in Tokyo – Japan in 2019.
The business workshop was attended by KCB Bank Board members who included; Mr Aga Sekalala (Bank Chairman in Uganda), Godfrey Ssenteza (Senior Manager –SME Banking), Michael Ssekyondwa (Manager – Agency Banking and Digital Finance), Mr Joram Kiare (KCB MD), Mr Ibrahim Ssenyonga – Head of Retail and, Paul Oketch – P.A ministry of Trade and Mr Kiwalabye Male – MD Buganda Land Board.
A chain of topics were tackled so as to help SME’s get concrete based knowledge of relevant systems that surround their business environment from Digital banking, Land tenures, Trade and Investment opportunities, Adoption of technology, among many more.
KCB Bank emphasises that Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) are the seeds of the private sector and also the source of innovation and diversification which supply larger companies and develop their own activities and product lines. When SME’s grow, they provide employment opportunities and enhance tax revenues.
Commenting on the importance of KCB Business clubs, KCB Bank Senior Manager – SME Banking, Mr Godfrey Ssenteza lamented that business clubs are important because they avail wider networking and investment opportunities across spheres, he stressed that some members off the KCB business club have managed get business contacts in the various business trips encountered so far which has enhanced growth of their business as they now know who to supply what, where and when which creates ready market for products and services and also know where and whom to get from required services for their businesses.
KCB Bank Managing Director, Mr Joram Kiare said ‘’The purpose of the KCB Business club is to foster the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) by opening new avenues of opportunities through focused workshops, regional and international networking trips and customized banking services at concessional interest rates. Small businesses contribute substantially to two fundamentals of poverty reduction, Job creation and economic growth’’.
During the workshop, the Bank also stressed out the uniqueness of KCB Business club hinged on with the first and foremost being that SME’s who intend to grow and better their line of operations in Uganda and beyond always have some of the benefits which include’ competitive forex rates on Foreign Exchange with a personal dealer attached to offer tailored investment advice, access KCB Bank Visa Gold Debit Card and Credit card, business advisory services, partnering opportunities with SME business owners in Bavaria Germany and other countries, access to special service counters designated for business club customers.
Also SME business club members have the opportunity to benefit from unsecured trip financing loans of upto Ugx 20 Million and beyond, plus the ability to borrow against their savings as well as automatic concessional interest rate of Base -1% on all loans applied for from the Bank.
