The second edition of the Small Business Regional Networking Forum has taken place in Yaounde in Yaounde under the theme “Business Networking, a valuable tool for entrepreneurial growth in Cameroon”.

Organised by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, the forum seeks brought together young entrepreneurs to help them find strategies in boosting their businesses.

Thus, discussions centred on getting access to finances as well as the various measures put in place by government to support young entrepreneur.

In one of the round table discussions, Cyrille Schouame, expert at the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized enterprises said many businesses and entrepreneurs fail in Cameroon because they don’t have the right information. He went ahead to outline a series of projects and programs made available to support young entrepreneurs.

Starting up as an entrepreneur or business person is never too easy especially with the lack of financing, some of the participants noted.

“It doesn’t only suffice to have an idea and go looking for finance. During our discussions I encouraged (participants) to look for easier ways to start looking for financing. Raising money for your business starts at the micro level,”Cho Rimsky, a tech entrepreneur who led discussions at the roundtable on “Access to Finance” said.

“Financial institutions can only bank on you when they have seen a feasible projct which you made an effort to start financially,” he added.

The SBEC Regional Forum also looked at the various tax registration procedures and what small businesses should do in order to in order to get proper exposure.