Small businesses registered under the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency had the chance to showcase their products and services at the Savoy Resort & and Spa premises at Beau Vallon last week.
This was during the Investment Forum and Exhibition organised in tandem with the 23rd annual general meeting of the Afro Import-Export Bank (Afreximbank) which Seychelles was hosting.
As is customary with exhibitions, they were a platform used by the businesses to showcase what they produce or offer, create business links and relationships as well as explore opportunities.
For this occasion it was an opportunity to market themselves to potential African markets making use of the presence of the about 500 delegates from both Africa and elsewhere attending the forum and meeting.
“The quality of products brought here today by the small entrepreneurs are those quality we are looking for export. There are different levels of products. We must make sure that what they are exhibiting do not already exist on other continents,” said Penny Belmont, chief executive of Senpa (Small Enterprise Promotion Agency).
She remarked the small entrepreneurs are bringing in products that are different, be in the field of arts and craft.
“What we are seeing today are products that are different, that we normally do not see. We are promoting those that are 100% locally made,” she said.
As for the selection criteria, Ms Belmont said the proposition was for open participation whereby all Senpa-registered small businesses were invited. They were free to choose whether they 
wanted to come or not.
“Then we worked with those who responded so we could get the quality products we were looking for,” she said.
Ms Belmont said although the exhibition was not one organised by Senpa but was a platform to promote these small businesses, those who took part have managed to come with very good quality products which made very good impressions.
Source : Seychelles NATION