Kenya’s Leading Islamic Bank and MSEA Sign Partnership Agreement
28th August 2020 – Gulf African Bank (GAB) and Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) have entered into a partnership agreement by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) towards the development, financing, and promotion of micro and small enterprises in the Country.
The MOU signing took place at Utalii House 10th Floor, Micro and Small Enterprises Board Room on Friday (28th August 2020).
Speaking during the signing, Mr. Henry Rithaa Director-General, MSEA said, “It is clear that small businesses in Kenya are looking for affordable solutions to revive and sustain their enterprises especially during this pandemic. By collaborating with innovative companies like Gulf African Bank, we are enlarging the pool of affordable credit facilities available to MSEs. MSEA is also working with other stakeholders in the public and private sector to provide innovative solutions that will unlock liquidity and provide working capital to cushion and revive the sector even as the pandemic evolves.”
This collaboration is focused on the fields of, among others; Provision of affordable and accessible credit facilities to MSEs and Business Development and Advisory Services to support businesses and create employment.
“Cognizant of the fact that the social benefits of a strong and vibrant MSE sector in Kenya cannot be overstated, Gulf African Bank continues to enter into strategic partnerships with like-minded institutions to further strengthen this sector. Our partnership with MSEA will enable us to deploy a variety of development initiatives to bridge micro and small businesses’ skill gaps through, training, financing, and helping them implement their growth plans.
MSE development is enmeshed in the bank’s business and CSR strategy, subsequently the program’s female benefactors will also be able to access interest-free financing from the bank’s foundation revolving WEMA fund whose objective is to help needy business women stay in business” said Saada Mohammed, Gulf African Bank’s Head of SME Banking
The partnership will help both institutions deploy strategic corporate-led approaches to ensure that MSEs enrolled in this program realize growth, which will lead to increased income distribution especially during this period when most small businesses have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
