NEW BUSINESS LOUNGE AT TRADE FAIR

MBABANE - Investors, entrepreneurs, exhibitors and individuals looking to start, grow and run meaningful connections at the Eswatini International Trade Fair engaged more this year thanks to a newly-introduced business lounge.

The business lounge had been hosted by FNB and the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) and provides a platform to link up and solidify your business story.

The partnership fully supports this year’s EITF theme ‘Eswatini is open for business’.
The functional business lounge also removes any need to rush back to the office to try and conclude that newly identified business opportunity, as it was equipped to assist in the business administration processes as well.

The first-of-its-kind business lounge was at Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre hall number one deck and provides the ideal space for networking, meetings and strengthening business connections.

The open-plan space comes complete with meeting pods for two or even four people at a time on one table.
It was also equipped with information on business finance, administration as well as had on-hand friendly staff at your service.
It was open to everyone, not just FNB customers.

Empowerment

The bank and EIPA had partnered to create an empowerment platform through the fully functional business lounge at this year’s trade fair.
Also partnering was the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) who brought a wealth of knowledge to share with start-up business owners.

Partners

Each of the partners providedvalue in the networking journey as EIPA was responsible for investors who were seeking opportunities, while SEDCO supports local entrepreneurs looking for investors and the third piece of the puzzle is FNB that provided technical and financial support.  

This week the FNB business lounge had hosted a series of networking sessions which have allowed EITF exhibitors and FNB customers to network and ideate on potential business opportunities. Additionally, ‘Meet and Greets’  have been scheduled to provide a platform for EITF exhibitors, FNB Business and SEDCO customers to discuss on issues affecting SME’s growth, in a bid to enable high-growth entrepreneurs that were open for business. 

On Wednesday, the September 4, 2019, FNB kickstarted the meet and greet sessions with a presentation by FNB’s Head of Business Nozizwe Mulela, who unpacked the requirements for accessing finance for your business.

Mulela gave a detailed step-by-step guide on how to qualify for credit for your business. She listed all the documents required for your credit application and why each one of those were important and how they were used in the evaluation of the credit application.

Thursday’s session was led by SEDCO, highlighting the key steps required for planning and registering your business, a key angst for many individuals who are interested in starting their own business, but unsure of the ways to go about this.
The Eswatini Revenue Authority led a session on Friday which looked at “enhancing tax compliance for SMEs”.This session was followed up with a Business Banking networking session that afternoon.

Business owners in the agricultural sector have also been catered for as National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) were delivering a presentation on accessing markets for agricultural producers on Saturday afternoon.
A networking session was planned for Saturday afternoon led by the FNB homeloans team to unpack the various home loan options available to FNB customers to be able to own the home of their dreams.

Contentment

Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) has expressed contentment at the partnership with FNB, stating that it would impact Eswatini’s businesses significantly.
Executive Manager Trade Promotion Bongani Ntshangase described the business lounge as a great innovation that would add value to the trade fair experience.
“We are pleased to partner with FNB because it will benefit Eswatini and entrepreneurs in a wider context. It means that people will go beyond just brief meetings and getting business cards but also get a chance to conclude any business deals that they may have identified at the Trade Fair,” he said.

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