Entrepreneurs: When the going gets tough, the tough gets going

Entrepreneurs are people are skilled at adapting and being resilient in uncertain situations and come up with new, different and innovative ideas.

“The challenges currently being faced by the Namibian economy may cause many to react with uncertainty. Entrepreneurs however, are those people who are skilled at adapting and being resilient in uncertain situations. It is especially during times such as these that entrepreneurs come up with new, different and innovative ideas.

“Regardless of current challenges, entrepreneurs with this type of mind-set will be in a better position to recession-proof their businesses and position it optimally for future success. This attitude takes a lot of character,” says Mbo Luvindao, manager of Bank Windhoek’s Emerging Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ESME) Finance Branch.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in Namibia’s economy with one in five people being employed in the sector. Not only do SMEs contribute to the gross domestic product, they also raise the standard of living of many Namibians, and in so doing, alleviates poverty. SMEs also empower women and youth within the community.

Entrepreneurship requires initiative and taking risks, but often, the end of the journey, yields high reward. Bank Windhoek’s ESME Finance Branch believes that there are Namibians who are willing to step up and be counted as contributors to the country’s economic growth.

The bank is calling on aspiring and established entrepreneurs, who meet the bank’s lending criteria, to approach the ESME Division with their business plans and request for funding to either start their businesses or expand or diversify their existing business portfolios.

Mentoring

Bank Windhoek has experienced that in addition to financing, the major need of start-ups and small and medium businesses is mentoring. Mentorship guides SMEs on how to run a successful and sustainable business.

Bank Windhoek’s mentorship programme is available to successful SME finance applicants. This is a ten-month targeted programme directed at helping the SME build capacity by improving business management skills. The mentors focus on assisting the business to improve in areas such as bookkeeping, pricing strategies, marketing, human resources management and other practical business skills.

“Bank Windhoek’s ESME Division’s ultimate goal is to see an increased number of small and medium enterprises grow into sustainable businesses,” says Luvindao.