The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry is running a programme to support small and micro enterprises that have been affected by Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
KNCCI president Richard Ngatia said the programme through Master Card Foundation has helped members get loans ranging from Sh1,000 to Sh30,000.
Speaking during the start of his coastal tour after opening the KNCCI Kilifi county offices in Malindi, Ngatia promised to lobby for funds for members, whose businesses have been affected by Covid-19.
He said his aim is to ensure the loans rise to Sh500,000 to enable the members to get support to revive their businesses.
The president noted that the coastal region which relied heavily on the tourism sector has suffered a lot as the industry is among the hardest hit by the pandemic.
Ngatia said they have many donors lined up who are ready to support SMEs revamp their businesses.
He said their coastal tour was meant to enable them to understand business people needs and seek better ways of supporting them.
“Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, businesses have been affected, with many closing down,” he said.
The president said they held talks with the national government and the Council of Governors on how to support SMEs by enabling them to get loans and be trained on how to continue doing their businesses.
He said training has already been done in 43 out of the 47 counties and members can apply for loans.
He thanked the Kilifi KNCCI chairman Majid Swaleh for opening the county office, saying it is the first time in history to have it there.
Ngatia said they have donors such as Equity bank who are issuing loans with interest and urged those who were trained in the 43 counties to begin applying for the loans.
He said there are also others like Amref who are supporting women groups and Agra which deals with farming. He said they are still in talks with other donors from different countries to see the best way to support them.
The KNCCI president said there is a need for people to benefit from the blue economy projects, adding that currently, the multi-billion shillings Lapsset project in Lamu is ready and will offer job opportunities to many youths.
“We are also in talks with countries such as Tanzania and Burundi whose presidents were here, we want to see the best way to cooperate in trade,” he said.
Ngatia lauded the Kilifi KNCCI members for utilising the first loans from Master Card Foundation and urged those who have not paid to pay.
Some of the beneficiaries of the loans thanked KNCCI for supporting them and urged them to increase the loan amount.
-Edited by SKanyara
