British Airways and Safaricom have partnered to launch an initiative that will provide international exposure for five business owners in Kenya’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.
The Emerging Enterprises Initiative aims at giving SME’s a boost by offering them access to international markets or a chance to source their supplies from source markets, at the most affordable and competitive rates.
The initiative will see British Airways invite SME owners to submit a business proposal detailing how their businesses would benefit from a trip to any of the 114 destinations where the airline flies to around the world.
The applications will be judged and the best five will have an opportunity to fulfil their aspirations of traveling to the business destination of their choice. In addition, each of the SME’s will get Kshs. 100,000 airtime from Safaricom to help meet their communication needs.
“We realise that SME’s are the engine room of economic growth and this project is designed to stimulate the sector and enthuse Kenyan companies to look to new markets and compete globally,” said George Mawadri, British Airways commercial manager for East and Central Africa.
Emerging Enterprise initiative will complement the already existing On Business programme, which offers travel savings to SME’s based on their loyalty as well as cash discounts on selected flights and bonuses.
Safaricom’s Head of SME & Channels Arjun Singh Dhillon said: “The small business is the driver of the Kenyan economy; this initiative will empower our SMEs to get to the next level by affording them much needed exposure and ability to communicate through affordable voice and data services.”
“Technology has localized the global market and it is necessary for service providers to form strategic partnerships to ensure customers transact business in the most timely and cost effective way,” he added.
Companies can submit the Emerging Enterprises entries online on BA Kenya Grants from until January 16. 2016.
To be eligible for the travel prize as well as the airtime, participating companies must have signed up for British Airways On Business programme and be registered customers of Safaricom’s Zidisha Biashara service.
