As part of its continuous line of measures to revitalise businesses affected by the ongoing pandemic, the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), is set to launch another initiative for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in October, its Executive Director, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, has disclosed.
The initiative, which is in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is geared towards digitising about 50 MSMEs and providing them with the required training and tools to take advantage of changing business landscape.
Recall that in January, both institutions indicted that they had come into partnership to improve the employment and income situation in Africa with its €13 million ‘WIDU’ programme. A communiqué to this effect revealed that the overarching goal was to support micro and small enterprises, entrepreneurship and job creation, by providing them with improved access to finance through the topping-up of migrants’ transfer of funds and capacity- building of entrepreneurial skills.
Speaking at the 29th edition of the MTN Business World Executive Breakfast Meeting, which was hosted virtually from Accra, Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh stated that the board, in partnership with GIZ, is being proactive with efforts aimed at enabling small businesses not only overcome the disruptions caused by the ongoing pandemic, which has accelerated the drive toward digitisation, but more importantly, position them for the post-COVID-19 world.
“One of the major things we’re launching in a few days is the digitisation partnership with GIZ. We are looking at digitising about 50 MSMEs; providing them with the requisite tools to be able to really facilitate trade and get their products out at a level they up until now hasn’t been possible,” she said.
She added that as the board has witnessed the scale and scope of its operations expand this year, particularly as a result of COVID-19, as its budget, for instance has grown from GH¢19,000 2017 to GH¢1 billion in 2020, with funding primarily from the government and development partners such as GZ and the MasterCard Foundation.
She also hinted that special consideration will be given to women-owned businesses, especially those operating in key sectors such as agriculture.
In her welcome address, Senior Manager, Enterprise Marketing and Portfolio Management for MTN Business, Ghana, Estelle J. Asare, confirmed that the changes resulting from the pandemic was the rationale for the theme of this edition of the programme.
The breakfast session which was held under the theme, ‘The Changing Face of Retail In Ghana: Scaling Successfully with Innovation & E-commerce’ saw the CEO of Kawa Moka Coffee, Emi-beth Aku, Quantson; CEO of Hubtel Alex Bram; CEO of Hair Senta/Business Strategist Gwen Gyimah Addo and CEO of Skin Gourmet Ltd Violet Amoabeng discuss their experiences in light of the effects of the pandemic and over insights into innovative ways businesses can apply e-commerce solutions to their activities.
