Bono minister urges MSMEs to invest in agriculture

Kwasi Adu-Gyan, the Bono East Regional Minister, has urged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to leverage opportunities and invest into agriculture for rapid economic growth and development.

He said the sector had huge potential to spur economic growth and urged MSMEs to recognise and tap into those potentials in the agriculture value chain.

Mr Adu-Gyan said MSMEs could invest into commercial farming, processing, and marketing.

The Regional Minister gave the advice when speaking at the launch of a three-day Annual Regional Network Conference for enterprise development, employment and promotion held at Techiman in the Bono East Region.

It was on the theme: “Sustainable Solutions for MSMEs Growth and Employment: The Transformational Potential of Regional Union” and aimed at providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing as well as networking the MSMEs and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

The German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in collaboration with the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council, and the Labour Department and AgriCO Hub, organised the conference with funding from the European Union (EU).

It also provided a common platform for the MSMEs to display their products and services. Mr Adu-Gyan highlighted the relevance of the MSMEs to tap into the potential in the agriculture sector, saying that would not only push economic growth and food security, but also create job opportunities for the youth.

He called on the GIZ to support and implement programmes that would empower and make the youth self-reliant, and control youth unemployment in the region.

Dr Christian Jahn, the Head of Programme Support, Private and Financial Sector, GIZ, asked the MSMEs to build and strengthen networks in addressing challenges facing them, including access to finance and reducing cost of capital.

He also entreated the MSMEs to capitalise on government interventions and programmes to build their businesses.