THE country’s bakers were sensitised on business skills from financing within the small and medium enterprise (SMEs) to export trade.
This was during the inaugural MTN Business Connect for Bakers Seminar held at the Mountain View Hotel yesterday, where over 200 bakers were engaged with the aim of finding ways to grow the economy.
MTN Head of Business Enterprise Unit Wandile Dlamini noted that the bakers contributed meaningfully to the economy.
He said the sector played an important role towards job creation, community development as well as household income generation.
Dlamini also said at MTN Business, they strongly believed that SMEs are the backbone of the country and the session was part of their commitment to walk the journey together.
He said they wanted to support SMEs by giving them the right digital tools and the right business solutions that will enable them to run their businesses.
Dlamini added that their mission was not just to provide simple connectivity, but to also be a trusted partner in digital as well as business transformation.
He said they wanted to help them adapt to technology more effectively, be able to manage their operations through the use of technology.
He said when SMEs thrived, the communities they come from thrived as well, which has real impact and what it does to the country’s economy.
“We need you to reach more customers and build sustainable and future ready businesses. We all know that entrepreneurship starts with a passion which needs to be supported with business skills and market access, access to technology, consistency, to grow and re-sustain.
In the next few months, we will be going to market with some of the propositions that we have designed specifically for the SME community.
“It is going to be instrumental in making sure that you continue to run your business effectively and efficiently.
“We understand that many of us face real challenges in the business environment which includes scaling your business and how to effectively go about doing so; how to market your business as well as how to work around prices,” Dlamini stated.
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MTN Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jerry Soko noted that the baking industry was a respectable industry.
He said the session was dedicated to the vibrant path they have taken, ensuring that their businesses are developed and upscaled.
Soko added that the partnership was about knowledge sharing and empowerment. He emphasised that MTN recognised SMEs as the backbone of the economy as they contribute significantly to employment, innovation and community development.
“We hope that through this platform, we will bridge knowledge gaps, create new connections and give SMEs access to thought leaders as well as key government stakeholders. As a digital partner, we want to understand your daily realities and co-create solutions that will help your businesses grow.
“Digitisation is no longer a luxury, but a catalyst through which your businesses will grow.
“Digital skill tools can help bakers by tracking your orders, manage a database of customers, improve and interact with your customers and perhaps get feedback from your customers,” said Soko.
He added that access digital payments through financial services platforms made it more convenient to do business, receive payments and more. Through accessibility to financing, regulatory support and capacity building, he said they enhanced the industry even further.
He said their goal was to ensure that SMEs, regardless of size and location could access stable, affordable and work-related digital competitiveness.
“We believe that digital tools and inclusive access to technology can transform not only your businesses, but the communities and the future of life,” he added.
