PHOTO CAPTION
Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSMEs Development Susan Auma Mang’eni addresses participants during the official opening of the Africa Commerce and Industry Summit (ACIS) 2026 at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on Wednesday
By Mary Ndanu
NAIROBI, Wednesday,
October 14, 2026
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Susan Auma Mang’eni has called on African securities exchanges to strengthen partnerships with small businesses to improve access to long-term financing and promote enterprise growth.
Mang’eni said limited access to affordable financing remains a major challenge facing MSMEs, restricting their ability to expand operations, create jobs and compete in regional and international markets.
Speaking during the official opening of the Africa Commerce and Industry Summit (ACIS) 2026 at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, she urged securities exchanges to work closely with governments and private sector players to build competitive, resilient and inclusive economies across the continent.
The three-day summit, hosted by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), brings together stakeholders in commerce and industry to explore opportunities for business growth, investment and market expansion.
Mang’eni noted that MSMEs play a critical role in Africa’s economic development by providing livelihoods and creating opportunities, particularly for young people and women.
She called on securities exchanges to expand their support beyond traditional listing services by helping MSMEs improve corporate governance, embrace innovation, increase productivity and meet the requirements for accessing capital markets.
The Principal Secretary said preparing businesses for stock exchange listings and other capital market financing instruments would create alternative funding opportunities, enabling enterprises to expand their operations, increase investment and generate employment.
She observed that stronger collaboration between governments, business membership organisations and capital market institutions was necessary to transform MSMEs into productive and investment-ready enterprises.
Mang’eni also challenged the organisers of ACIS 2026 to prioritise youth- and women-led businesses throughout the summit, saying their participation was essential in addressing the country’s employment needs.
She said Kenya faces an annual demand for approximately 1.2 million jobs, with MSMEs expected to contribute at least 70 per cent of the employment opportunities.
The Principal Secretary emphasised that supporting small businesses to access financing, improve their competitiveness and expand into new markets would help them create sustainable jobs and contribute to inclusive economic growth.
She further reaffirmed the State Department’s commitment to working with KNCCI to strengthen enterprise capacity, expand market access and improve the competitiveness of Kenyan MSMEs.
Her remarks came as KNCCI marks its 60th anniversary, highlighting the need for sustained cooperation between the government and the private sector to support businesses and promote economic development.
Mang’eni said continued partnerships among public institutions, business associations and capital market players would be instrumental in helping African enterprises access the resources they need to grow and compete in global commerce.
She called for coordinated efforts to ensure MSMEs become stronger drivers of investment, decent employment and sustainable economic growth across the continent.