More than 600 entrepreneurs, business experts and policy-makers will this morning converge in Kigali to discuss mechanisms on how to boost capacities of small-and-medium enterprises to promote exports and create jobs through trade during the 14th world Development Export Forum, which is running for the next three days.

The forum is expected to focus on how SMEs can tap into the latest best business practices and trends to become more competitive in global markets.

According to trade experts, the forum presents the country’s SME industry an opportunity to learn from global business leaders, entrepreneurs and representatives of trade support institutions how to run enterprises sustainably and profitably.

For Bihira Gilbert, an advisor at the Rwanda Wholesalers Association, the forum should find solutions to business constraints that SMEs face, especially accessing markets and development capital.

"We hope the meeting focuses more on how to address constraints including access to credit and regional markets because this is what SMEs need to develop their capacities,” Bihira said.

He noted that SMEs always find it difficult to establish new markets due to limited capacities and lack of right information.

The annual meeting has been organised by the International Trade Centre, the joint agency of the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations that assists small-and-medium size enterprises, and the Rwanda Development Board under the theme; "SMEs: Creating jobs through trade” It will attract delegates from 73 countries globally.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and executive director of UN Women; Amadou Diallo, the chief executive officer of DHL Freight and entrepreneur Ashish Thakkar, the founder and managing director of the Mara Group are some of the guest speakers at the forum.

A women vendors’ exhibition and forum is also going to be held alongside the main forum, featuring the annual roundtable of the Global Platform for Action on Sourcing from Women Vendors.

Clare Akamanzi, the RDB chief operations officer, said the forum provides Rwanda’s SME sector a platform to learn from the top business leaders and experts from around the globe.

"This is a big opportunity for small scale businesses to share experiences, network and acquire knowledge and information that will help build their capacity,” she said.

Entrepreneurs are expected to engage in business-to-business meetings to brainstorm on how to foster business partnerships and linkages.

Overall the forum is expected to help small scale entrepreneurs to establish business partnerships in agro-processing, horticulture, textiles and clothing, tourism, information and communication technology, and the services sectors, according to Akamanzi.