BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MBABANE – FNB Eswatini has launched an ambitious nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector by taking practical business support directly to entrepreneurs through its inaugural SME Growth Forums.
The forums, which will be held across all four regions between July and August, are designed to equip entrepreneurs with practical business skills, expert advice and financial solutions that will enable them to grow sustainable enterprises and contribute meaningfully to Eswatini’s economic development.
The initiative forms part of FNB Eswatini’s partnership with the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) under the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EYA) programme. Each SME Growth Forum will be held immediately after the regional EYA awards, providing a platform where entrepreneurs can engage with industry experts, exchange ideas and gain knowledge that can help them unlock new business opportunities.
Around 50 FNB SME clients are expected to attend each regional forum, where discussions will focus on Eswatini’s economic outlook, emerging business opportunities, the bank’s SME support offerings and practical Business Toolkit Masterclasses covering cash flow management, financial record keeping and business planning.
The masterclasses are intended to strengthen the financial management and operational capacity of entrepreneurs, helping them build resilient businesses capable of creating employment and driving economic growth.
FNB Eswatini SME Lead Nombuso Mndzebele said the initiative reflects the bank’s renewed commitment to taking meaningful support closer to entrepreneurs throughout the Kingdom.
“We are committed to strengthening our position as the go-to bank for SMEs in Eswatini. One of the key actions we are prioritising to achieve this goal is active customer engagement. We believe it is important to create meaningful platforms where we can engage directly with our clients, listen to their experiences, understand their challenges, and share the solutions we are bringing to the market,” she said.
She said the forums will also feature expert panel discussions involving specialists from the bank’s Merchant Services and Digital Payments, Foreign Exchange and Cross-Border Trade, Insurance Solutions for SMEs and WesBank divisions.
The sessions will provide entrepreneurs with practical insights on digital payment solutions, cross-border trade, business insurance and asset financing, while giving them an opportunity to interact directly with experts and receive guidance tailored to their business needs.
Mndzebele said the engagements will enable the bank to continuously refine its products and services to ensure they remain relevant to the evolving needs of SMEs.
“Through these engagements, we will be better positioned to shape and deliver our HELP in a way that responds directly to the needs of SMEs, ensuring that our solutions remain relevant, practical and impactful. This is in line with our renewed commitment for our new financial year, ‘Help is for everyone.’ With the FNB SME Growth Forum, help is for every SME in Eswatini,” she concluded.
The inaugural FNB SME Growth Forum will be held at Siteki Hotel in the Lubombo Region on July 20, before moving to Hhohho on July 23, Manzini on July 27 and Shiselweni on August 3.
By taking these forums to every region, FNB Eswatini is reinforcing its commitment to building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring that SMEs have access not only to financial services but also to the knowledge, networks and practical tools needed to innovate, expand and remain competitive. The initiative is expected to play a significant role in supporting entrepreneurship, stimulating local economic activity and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the Kingdom.
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