“It is impossible for ideas to compete in the market place if no forum for their presentation is provided or available.” – Thomas Mann, 1896
Somali business forum (SBF) is a non-profit, non-political organization. SBF was founded in the UK on March 2015 by a group of Somali nationals in the Diaspora willing to promote good and sound economic bilateral relations between businesses, governments and other relevant organizations. The Somali Business Forum strives to serve as a forum for businesses and organizations, encouraging and promoting interest, exchanging views relating to businesses, and facilitating development regarding successful communication and interaction.
The key focus of the forum is to utilize and share information relevant to trade, investment and alternative business opportunities available and ensure their accessibility to the greater market.
SBF wishes to raise the profile of the Somali businesses through a range of activities. These include using shared branding and marketing media channels and helping to build and strengthen local supply chain opportunities.
Since its launch, SBF has organized regular events on doing business and making investment within its members. We place great emphasis on ‘You can do it’ by inviting experienced businesses and professionals to share their practical experience of doing business.
Mission statement
We are ‘Stronger Together’
Somali business forum is the primary business network bringing businesses together to make new contact, encourage inter-trading and sharing best practice to help support business growth and sustainability.
Our Aims
Somali Business Forum (SBF) exists to foster relationships and collaborations between local enterprises thereby facilitating business activities for start-ups and SMEs. We provide a network of business leaders, infrastructure, links to institutions and professional advisors to deliver optimal outcomes for all.
Successful businesses achieve their goals in the face of many different internal and external factors. For most businesses, access to outside advice and expertise is a major challenge and drain upon their most important resources: managerial time and money. SBF provides a means to address this problem, through a trusted and credible team of multi-skilled professional advisers and peer to peer interactions. This will help facilitate growth and increase the efficiency of local businesses participating in this mutually beneficial approach.
Our Key Objectives
- To establish a regular marketing programme targeting all the forum members to inform them of training and other activities
- To improve diversification and the cross-fertilisation of ideas and initiatives through an increase in the membership of the Forum
- To identify Somali businesses with growth potential and help them achieve that potential
- To run an advice clinic who wish to investigate and develop business ideas
- Lobby government and those in positions of influence.
- Promote Somali business involvement in communities and politics.
- Mentoring and coaching for fledgling business.
- To build meaningful relationships for Somali owned businesses locally, nationally and internationally.