Access Bank Ghana PLC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DHL to support the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to explore the export market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative for growth.As part of the MoU, the two organisations would team up to build the capacity of about 50,000 SMEs in Africa in the next three years so they would be in the position to take advantage of AfCFTA and export to the other African markets.The Executive Director of Wholesale Banking of Access Bank, Ghana PLC, Mr James Bruce, said Access Bank Ghana PLC over the years had supported SMEs as an intentional policy by not just giving them money, but training and equipping them with the capacity to thrive."No economy can grow without SMEs.
They are the engine of growth.
And aside from access to finance and skills training, logistics is a core component of every SME's journey, how to get produce to market, how to get it in the right shape so that your business partner on the other side is happy about what they received, so that you have to repeat orders," he explained.It is against this backdrop that he said, Access Bank Ghana PLC had partnered with DHL, a world-class logistics company, to build the capacity of SMEs across Africa.Additionally, Mr Bruce underlined that some of the SMEs did not have the capacity and knowledge on how to access the African market."DHL is very big on sustainability.
So once we are starting this journey, it is good to have a partner that understands what we are doing," he emphasised, adding that "So as we move forward in this partnership, I want to reaffirm that Access Bank Ghana has a commitment not to be just a financial service provider.
