GTBank Launches The SME MarketHub for Nigerian Businesses‏

    Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) has launched “The SME MarketHub” which will serve as a free business directory and e-commerce portal to help support small and medium scale enterprise activities in the country. The e-commerce portal will help entrepreneurs list, promote and sell their business and services online while taking advantage of the numerous business opportunities and tools in the space to increase their profitability. GTBank Managing Director, Segun Agbaje said that the SME Market Hub will provide entrepreneurs with a platform that will help them create and maintain their online presence and expand their business frontiers to new markets and millions of buyers that are online. He said that the platform will also create a community that will allow them to build meaningful and sustainable relationships with other business owners. Agbaje explained that while economic conditions present different challenges for SMEs in Nigeria, it is important for SMEs to get all the support they need to propel growth and development in the country’s economy. Lola Odedina, GTB General Manager and Group Head, Communications and External Affairs noted that currently, there are about 5,200 entrepreneurs that have registered and begun transactions on the platform. According to her, the platform features include a free webpage with e-commerce tools; a unique website address; personalized online storefront; shopping cart with no consignment fee; online payment gateway; inventory management tools; order and enquiry notifications; and messaging service and membership within the SME MarketHub directory. SMEs interested in joining the “SME MarketHub” can operate it online with a GTBank account. Agbaje further explained that the bank will grant a percentage of all the transactions carried out on the platform to its Autism Fund and it would be used to build an “Autism Resource Center” to empower parents, educators, therapists and caretakers to access information that will contribute to the efforts to provide quality care for those living with Autism and special disorders. GTBank also plans to launch the Ghana and the East African versions of “The SME MarketHub” before the end of the year to leverage on the countries’ vibrant small business markets.