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Venture Capital Firms Meet SMEs at Business Sense 2011

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 Source: --

Leading venture capital fund managers in Ghana and UK will discuss how to

access much needed capital with business owners, entrepreneurs and managing

directors of small and medium scale enterprises at Business Sense 2011

conference. This important conference, which takes place at the KAMA

Conference Centre on 24-25th February, is under the theme, "Turning ideas

into profitable businesses to drive Ghana’s private sector" and organised by

OML Africa*.*

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Lined up to address conference delegates, made up of top management from

over 50 mostly Ghanaian-owned businesses, are officials from Grofin, Oasis

Capital, Ghana Private Sector Development Fund and Angel Finance, UK's most

experienced global finance specialists.

Anthony Annan, an official of Grofin Ghana and speaker at the conference on

the topic, “SME Funding -Tackling the missing majority”, said “Capital

needed to drive economic growth in Africa certainly exists, but is being

invested in the wrong asset class. Foreign direct investment in Africa has

increased from $9 billion in 2000 to $62 billion in 2008- almost as large as

the flow of capital into China, when measured relative to GDP.”

He continued,” Prioritization of this capital has been imbalanced. To fully

realize the potential of SMEs, the sector needs to be approached with a

fresh perspective attuned to the challenges it faces. There is a need for

the focus to shift from the available collateral in the business to the

viability of the business and the ability of the entrepreneur.”

Founder and Managing Director of Angel Finance, (an equity and venture

capital which has helped raise in excess of £250million for various

companies in UK, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa), Douglas Oppong will

deliver a paper on "How Not To Let The Bank Say “No” To Your Business

Finance Proposal” at Business Sense 2011 to equip delegates with boosting

their chances of capital acquisition for their businesses.

Matthew Boadu Adjei, Founder and CEO of Oasis Capital Ghana will also

address the conference. Oasis Capital is raising US$25 million in a series

of fund closings to enable it provide funding for SMEs and has, as of March

2010, completed its first closing at US$10 million. It has also signed a

US$2 million co-investment agreement with Social Venture Capital 1 BV

(SOVEC) of the Netherlands under which SOVEC co-invests with funds managed

by Oasis Capital on case by case basis.

Delegates at the Business Sense 2011 conference will also learn how to

access the Ghana Private Sector Development Fund, a Ghanaian-Italian credit

facility which is a 22-million Euro credit line supporting the growth of

SMEs and enhancing their contribution to Ghana’s development .

Miss Anita Wiafe, MD of OML Africa says,” As organisers, we recognize the

desperate need for capital by many SMEs and as a result, we have assembled a

high-quality panel of speakers to assist the development and sustainability

of Ghanaian businesses. However, the focus of the entire conference is not

only capital or business loan acquisition. There are other reputable

speakers delivering presentations on all key areas of business including

sales, business plan writing, marketing, customer service, recruitment, tax

and more.”

“The Business Sense 2011 conference is all about giving the best quality

advice to businesses. The aim is to bring experts to share their modern day

business practices that have delivered results. It brings thought leaders,

experts to share and mentor entrepreneurs to embrace efficient and

sustainable business practices in a modern world economy”, she added.

Other speakers include Charles Nornoo (Executive Director at Development

Solutions Centre and CEO of Genuine Products Limited); Jeanine Bowen (Vice

Chair, Ghana South Africa Chamber of Commerce); Peter Gyateng (General

Manager, Kingdom Books); Dr Dan Quaye (lecturer, University of Ghana

Business School);Prince Amoako Nuamah (Ghana Chamber of Commerce); Dr Esi

Ansah (Assistant Professor, Ashesi University); Kojo Amissah (Lead

Executive, Commonwealth Institute of Technology and Management) and many

other reputable business experts

Delegates from a wide cross section of business are expected to attend

including FC Beauty Group, Grameen-A Ventures, Builders Accessories Ghana

Ltd, GMT Shipping Limited, Omega Health Care, AAS Consultants (Nigeria),

Vahil Co Limited, Gecam Superior Limited, Anslyd Enterprise, Zaare Craft &

Leather Industries, Genius Consult Ltd, Ataade Patterns, Zodiac Marine

Service and Oliben Foundry & Technical Services.

Others are Gravies Group, Contact & Supply Services Ltd, Resource Link

Foundation, Experts Consult Ltd, Stable Capital, Green Enviro Tech Ltd,

LawZan Limited, Mawood Drinkables Ltd, Philiyanco Company Limited, Prime

Street Investments, ROWI, Dorwill Travel & Tours, Joy Standard Schools,

Rulwilkan Global Group, Rapnet Pharmaceuticals, Kristo Asafo Mission,

Krispat Ear Centre Ghana Ltd, Adansi Rural Bank and many more.

A 2-day business exhibition with free admission to the public will run

alongside the conference. Business Sense 2011 is sponsored by Arik Air, Joy

Business, the Daily Guide and Modern Ghana.

For more information call 0206367515 or 0545302854. Email: paul@hr-oml.co.uk

Visit the event website http://www.businesssensegh.com

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Paul Asinor

Event Director

Business Sense 2011

http://www.businesssensegh.com

Mobile:0206367515

Source: --