Minister Achilles Bassilekin while launching activities of the House at SG Cameroon’s headquarters in Bali, Douala on Friday July 18, said it was part of President Paul Biya's will, to develop the SMEs sector through efforts as such, carried out by SG Cameroon and some partners.

The Minister thanked SG Cameroon for supporting government’s developmental efforts, by boosting the private sector. He described the House as a research center that comes to fight against unemployment. He called on Cameroonians especially business persons, to exploit the free services offered by the house, for their own personal growth. The Minister also called on other banks in the country, to emulate the work done by SG Cameroon towards an emerging nation by 2035.

According to the General Manager of SG Cameroon, Madame Marème Mbaye Ndiaye, the House of SMEs at SG Cameroon is open to business ideas from entrepreneurs, where they will benefit from free consultancy on their projects, and possibly connected to investors.

The project seeks to foster creation of enterprises, where it will nursed and nurtured into reality.
The General Manager of SG Cameroon, insisted that the house of the SME is "open to anyone wishing to create or develop his business and all existing SMEs, be it a customer at the bank or not.

During a press conference organised by the company, shortly after the inaugural ceremony, Nicholas Pichou, Assistant General Manager, of SGC, said it was a good opportunity for startups, who would have their business ideas drawn by experts and be financed by investors depending on how committed they are.

He further said, it was possible for someone to enter the House of SMEs with an idea, and come out as an owner of a company.
“ You can enter the House of SMEs in one day, and come out like an accomplished businessman “, said Pichou.

Using an example of how a snail farmer can benefit from the House of SMEs, bank officials explained that the House of SMEs helps wasn’t limited to any business idea, as such a farmer be received in the house, where his idea will be created, nursed, developed, benefit from financing through investors and so on.

The inaugural ceremony of the House of SMEs, was marked by the presence of top government officials, the French Ambassador to Cameroon and the representative of EU's commission in Cameroon , the Head of International Retail Banking For Africa, the Mediterranean Basin and Overseas, Laurent Goutard, business operators, amongst others.