Venture Capital Firms Meet SMEs at Business Sense 2011

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*.*

* *

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

--
Paul Asinor
Event Director
Business Sense 2011
http://www.businesssensegh.com
Mobile:0206367515