"We have put in place a framework that promotes the financing of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Namely, the creation of a house of SMEs, the implementation of a program of industrialization of the granting processes and adapted package, securing financing. We have a total commitment to SMEs of 450 billion CFA francs by 2023."

This was revealed by Aymeric Villebrun, CEO of Societe Generale de Côte d'Ivoire (Sgci). It was on the occasion of the presentation of its 2018 results and prospects, recently, in Abidjan-Plateau.

According to him, the objective of the group, presented in November 2018, in Dakar, is to contribute to the sustainable development of Africa by relying on four (4) development axes: support for African SMEs, Development of financing for the agricultural and energy sector, Participation in infrastructure financing and the Creation of solutions for financial inclusion.

"It is in this context that we have expanded the geographical network with the opening of 23 agencies including 19 in the provinces and the creation of 60 "self-service spaces" including 50 in the provinces, the establishment of specialized agencies (real estate, high-end customers, SMEs), improving the customer experience in agencies through a review of the customer journey.

This allowed the reduction of waiting time by 30% in April 2018 and the continuation of efforts to digitize the offer. In order to increase customer autonomy through applications such as Connect, Sogescashnet and various cash management solutions... " he argued.

He also highlighted the development of the "Global transaction banking" offer providing clients with expertise in cash management, factoring or trade finance, as well as participation in structured finance operations important for the country (infrastructure financing) for an amount of about 90 billion CFA francs disbursed in 2018.

On the social level, the group continues to multiply its actions: support for disadvantaged children with, in particular, support for three nurseries (Dabou, Adjamé and Bayard Press); at the level of health, actions in favor of the fight against hepatitis C, actions to promote art and support for structures promoting professional integration.

In particular, with the Empow'her and Comm'Ya project which has enabled the support of about 150 women with a professional development project, "Simplon" which has allowed the follow-up of 25 young graduates in their apprenticeship paths to the IT development profession, 5 of whom will be offered an internship at the within the company at the end of the training in July 2019.