Global microfinance institution, Advans Group is targeting to enter the regional market in due course to offer affordable credit to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking in Nairobi during the Africa Inclusive Finance Week – SAM 2025, Advans Ghana Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Valence said the firm is exploring Kenya as its launching pad into the East African region through acquisition.
“We are now entering a new strategic cycle where we want to expand into Africa. We have a 100pc focus on this continent because this is where the growth and needs are,” said Valence
Adance Group which offers tailored financial solutions to MSMEs in Cameroon, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Tunisia has so far extended loans amounting to Ksh 62.3 billion (€360m) after a 14pc year-on-year growth.
“We are looking at East Africa and Kenya definitely but we have an opportunistic approach it really depends on possibilities and bottom shelves we find. We are looking for an acquisition so it is much more of an acquisition strategy we are entering now,” Valence added.
Advans Group which currently has at least 735,000 customers across in the African market says African still presents an opportunity for growth given that 40pc of business are in the informal sector which is not well served.
“We estimate also today that less than 7pc of business access loans from a formal institution. So there is a huge need and opportunity for growth and this informal sector is actually a major contributor of gross domestic product in every country,” said Sarah Doukoure, Advans Côte d’Ivoire Chief Executive Officer.
Besides loans, the firm also offers cash deposit services and insurance products which it uses to support farmers against adverse losses during extreme weather and women during pregnancy.
“We are also working on insurance to support our customers especially women in the event of pregnancy. We are working with some insurance companies to cover this period of their lives in order to restart the business,” said Jean Luc Nzoubou, CEO Advans DRC.
The firm which has been operating in the African market for the last 20 years says in 2024, Advans Group’s deposits by African customers grew by 7pc to stand at Ksh 37.2 billion (€215m).
The firm is similarly looking to support MSMEs to upscale through affordable financial products and access other markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
