Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire | October 2026
The All Africa Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (AAASME) has further expanded its continental sensitisation campaign for the UbuntuSusu Continental SME Fund into Francophone Africa, leveraging the 2026 Salon International des Fournisseurs et Investisseurs d’Afrique (SIFIA Africa) to deepen engagement with entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders across the region.
Held from October 22–24, 2026, at the Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire, the second edition of SIFIA Africa brought together approximately 350 exhibitors alongside business executives, investors and policymakers to explore opportunities for trade, investment and enterprise development.
Under the theme “Connecting Businesses, Creating Markets and Accelerating Growth,” the exhibition provided a strategic platform for advancing AAASME’s vision of building a more financially inclusive and economically empowered African SME ecosystem.
UbuntuSusu: Advancing SME Economic Empowerment Across Africa
At the centre of AAASME’s engagement is the UbuntuSusu Continental SME Fund, an initiative designed to promote financial inclusion, improve access to capital and strengthen the growth potential of small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa.
The expansion of UbuntuSusu sensitisation into Francophone Africa represents another step towards building awareness, fostering institutional partnerships and encouraging wider participation in a continental financing framework that responds to the challenges facing African entrepreneurs.
SIFIA Africa 2026 presented an opportunity to connect this vision with the realities of businesses in West Africa, particularly those seeking affordable financing, access to new markets and stronger regional commercial networks.
Strengthening Continental Partnerships and International Trade
As part of AAASME’s broader international engagement, the Association’s President also extended an invitation to stakeholders concerning the Trade House initiative in Doha, Qatar, highlighting opportunities for stronger commercial connections between African enterprises and international markets.
The invitation reinforces AAASME’s commitment to creating pathways through which African SMEs can access strategic partnerships, investment networks and cross-border trade opportunities.
Engaging Key Business Leaders Across Francophone Africa
The sensitisation engagement brought together a distinguished network of business leaders, investors, institutional representatives and SME development advocates from across Africa and beyond.
Among the personalities acknowledged by the AAASME President were:
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Ambassador Alphonse Voho Sahi, former Côte d’Ivoire Ambassador to Algeria.
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Dr. Elias Farakkhan, President, Federated Association of SMEs, Côte d’Ivoire, and Vice Chairman, ECOWAS Small Business Coalition.
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Amina Sow, CEO, SoW Group, Senegal.
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Madame Konate Aishatu, Mali SME Aggregators.
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Dr. Lamine Traore, Chairman, LTE Groupe, Côte d’Ivoire.
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Laura Saleh, Project Director, VABICUI/European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham), Côte d’Ivoire.
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Imen Chaabane, Senior Investment Advisor, RFZ Group, Dubai.
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Nasr-Eddine Akeb, CEO, VIAS SARL, Algeria.
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Mr. Ibrahim Gbane, Head of Strategy and Development, KGYM Finance, Côte d’Ivoire.
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Madame Binta Gueye Sarr, Coordinator, ETS Siggen Jiggen, Senegal.
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Madame Bibi Diarra, CAFL Cooperative, Mali.
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Blanche Ouattara, Organisation Interprofessionnelle Agricole de la Filière Anacarde (OIA Anacarde), Côte d’Ivoire.
Their presence, as acknowledged by the AAASME President, reflected the diverse network of stakeholders whose expertise in finance, investment, agriculture, enterprise development and regional trade is essential to Africa’s SME transformation.
Building a More Connected African SME Economy
The SIFIA Africa 2026 engagement reinforces AAASME’s commitment to extending the UbuntuSusu vision across linguistic and geographical boundaries, ensuring that Francophone African enterprises are part of the wider conversation on SME financing and economic empowerment.
By fostering relationships with financial institutions, SME associations, cooperatives and private-sector leaders, AAASME continues to lay the groundwork for broader awareness and potential collaboration around the UbuntuSusu Continental SME Fund.
AAASME Presents Letter of Appointment to Marc Ekressin as Côte d’Ivoire Country Coordinator
In a significant move towards strengthening its institutional presence across Francophone Africa, AAASME presented a Letter of Appointment to Mr. Marc Ekressin as AAASME Country Coordinator for Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr. Ekressin, who also served as the General Commissioner of SIFIA Africa 2026, was congratulated by the AAASME President for his leadership and the successful organisation of the continental business and investment exhibition.
The appointment marks another important step in AAASME’s regional expansion strategy, positioning Côte d’Ivoire as a strategic hub for advancing SME development, strengthening cross-border partnerships and promoting awareness of the UbuntuSusu Continental SME Fund within Francophone Africa.
AAASME expressed optimism that Mr. Ekressin’s experience, extensive business networks and commitment to enterprise development would contribute significantly to expanding the Association’s reach and creating new opportunities for SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider West African region.
As UbuntuSusu sensitisation gains momentum across Africa, the message remains clear: Africa’s SMEs must be connected, financially empowered and positioned to participate meaningfully in the continent’s economic future.
See more information on the UbuntuSusu Continental SME Fund.
