Financing and Market Access Barriers Hindering African SME Expansion

Limited access to financing, inadequate infrastructure, and challenges entering new markets continue to hinder the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises across Africa. Companies seeking to expand beyond their domestic markets face additional obstacles to cross‑border trade and investment.

Scheduled for November 16‑17 in Lagos, the Pan‑Atlantic University‑hosted conference will convene entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and business support organisations from over ten African nations. Organisers note that SMEs still struggle to obtain investment, reach new customers, adopt technology, and comply with regulatory demands, despite their vital role in economic activity. These hurdles restrict their competitiveness in larger markets and impede the development of sustainable operations beyond their local contexts.

The conference, now renamed the Pan‑African SME Conference, will concentrate on fostering stronger collaboration among businesses, financial institutions, investors, technology providers, and governments to enhance access to opportunities. Dr. Nnenna Ugwu, Head of Alumni Engagement and Support Services at EDC, emphasized that the challenges confronting SMEs transcend national borders and demand solutions that operate beyond Nigeria.

“Two decades ago, we created a platform for Nigerian entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and be heard. That platform has expanded, as have the businesses it supports. Yet the challenges our SMEs encounter do not respect borders, and neither should our solutions,” she said. Dr. Ugwu added that the upcoming phase will concentrate on developing platforms that support enterprises continent‑wide and ensure that dialogue leads to tangible results.

The two‑day conference will examine access to finance, investment readiness, infrastructure, policy, women‑ and youth‑led entrepreneurship, technology, and business expansion. It will also cover related topics such as market entry strategies and regulatory frameworks.

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