Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the Ashanti Region are meeting to discuss ways and means by which they can undertake their businesses without putting a strain on the environment, which is causing global warming.
The three-day forum has been put together by the Ghanaian and German governments with the German International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) as promoters of the engagement.
Addressing participants at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Mr John Buti – Team Leader for Invest for Jobs Group, noted that businesses in Ghana will only attract the kind of investments they desire when they learn to operate in green environments.
He said serious investors take into account the environments businesses operate in before reaching out for partnerships or mergers.
“In this rapidly-changing world, serious investors look out for businesses that undertake their operations in eco-friendly or green environments; and those who deploy mechanisms which reduce the emission of gaseous substances stand a better chance of securing partnerships,’’ Mr. Buti intimated.
Giving details of the forum, the Team Leader said SMEs constitute the Ghanaian economy’s largest sector; and the organisers are targetting them so they create awareness to use resources that will enable them to attract support and partnerships from government.
The support SMEs obtain from government and other outfits, Mr. Buti noted, will enable them to expand in business and create additional spaces for employment.
The leader revealed that the regional engagements are tailored toward creating employment avenues for 10,000 people in Ghana through the ideas they will be churning out to investors and exhibitors.
‘’This programme has been categorised to support SMEs get support from Ghana and German governments, and it is also aimed at empowering local companies to get certification and also acquire business registrations to be in line for assistance or investments,’’ the Team leader revealed.
On her part, Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, Chief Executive Officer for the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), said her outfit is happy participating in the Green SMEs Networking platform – which has the potential of imbuing business owners and entrepreneurs with the requisite knowledge to undertake their services in environmentally friendly conditions.
She noted that businesses suffered in the COVID-19 pandemic season, and the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to present enormous challenge to businesses across the world.
The way to get out of these predicaments, she noted, is for businesses to align themselves with opportunities created by the Ghana government and GIZ so that they can stay afloat in the business sector.
“GEA is happy with the Ghana government and GIZ project, which promises to provide additional knowledge and solutions to issues confronting businesses so they can become more efficient and create more jobs for the Ghanaian people,” Mrs. KosiYanky noted.
Samuel Amankwah, CEO of PLANMEG Enterprise – a producer of biscuits made from plantain, told this reporter that he is hopeful the forum will give him the opportunity to learn from best practices so he can explore avenues to make his brand attractive internationally.
He is happy that SMEs have been provided an avenue to exhibit what they deal in so they can be contacted for support or partnerships.
Adwoa Ahenkan, a dealer in cosmetics, said she is happy the Ghana Enterprises Agency made it possible for her to attend the forum to learn and better her trade.
She is optimistic that the breakout sessions will provide SMEs opportunities to network and explore partnerships with other exhibitors and government agencies.
Present at the forum were regional representatives from the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) as well as the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA).
