»» SMEs contribute to a massive 60% of the GDP of Kenya. Standard Chartered Bank has seen this opportunity and is one of the few banks in Kenya to have developed a dedicated department looking after this sector.

In this episode of IT’S AFRICA’S TIME, we travel to the foothills of the magnificent Mount Kenya to meet Major Silas Mwiti on his farm, Sunland Roses. Major Mwiti and his partner, Peter Viljoen, started Sunland Roses in 2000 and have developed it from a small enterprise into a hugely successful rose export business. Their partnership with Standard Chartered Bank Kenya has assisted Sunland Roses to access new markets as well as mitigate their foreign exchange risks, assisting it to expand from a mere 4 hectares to a massive 20-hectare farm.

Today, Sunland Roses exports to countries all over the world, their biggest market being Holland. It’s an inclusive partnership that has not only seen a huge growth in the company’s bottom line but has also increased jobs and the health of the industry as a whole. Apart from running a successful business, Major Mwiti and his partner also give back to the community, supporting a local orphanage and several environmental conservation projects.