France Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophia Ave, has heaped praises on Ghanaian entrepreneurs for their enthusiasm in the business sphere.
According to Anne Sophia Ave, their creativity and competitiveness boost economic dynamism which attracts investors like the Choose Africa initiative by the French government to support indigenous companies.
“We trust Ghana’s competitiveness, we trust Ghana’s creativity, we trust Ghana’s talent and I am very impressed with the kind of entrepreneurial society you have.” The Diplomat noted.
The Ambassador made this known during a press briefing on a conference to be held for Small and Medium Enterprises and Start-ups in Ghana.
The event, organized by Proparco, a subsidiary of the French development agency, Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), focuses on scaling up successes as well as laying the opportunity to provide grants for Ghanaian SMEs and start-ups
The French initiative, Choose Africa, fulfills France’s commitment to supporting the African entrepreneurial impetus.
With Choose Africa, which is propagated by Proparco, aims to accompany Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs at all stages of their development, via a wide range of financing and support solutions.
2.5 billion euros will be dedicated to supporting African entrepreneurs, by 2022. In total, nearly 10,000 MSMEs will benefit from this initiative of which Ghana is a major beneficiary.
Reiterating the French government support, Ambassador of France to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave, said her outfit is happy to support Ghanaian entrepreneurs.
She noted that the entrepreneurial force in Ghana, “a sign of a dynamic economic society and community and we are very happy to support it. It is a political will to do more and support this area that the French president has decided to increase the budget given to Proparco specifically to invest in African companies".
She called for local partners like the financial institutions to jump on the wagon to help unearth thriving and skillful enterprises to spear sustainable growth in the country.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Proparco, Djalal Khimdjee said revealed that Ghana, being a key priority for Proparco and the AFD Group, represents the second largest country in West African region.
He indicated that Ghana has a “strong developmental potential that Proparco regional management and the local representation wish to reinforce.”
