EMPRETEC gives SMEs lifeline to global market

Accra, May 27, GNA - Nana Tweneboa-Boateng, Director, EMPRETEC Ghana Foundation, on Tuesday identified the building of high quality growth-oriented and internationally competitive entrepreneurs as Ghana's key to operate in global marketplace.

This should be done through training, business advice and access to technology, finance and organisation. He said for Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs (SMEs) to meet global demands, government needed to create the enabling environment, political and micro economic stability, physical infrastructure, entrepreneurial skills and access to finance. Nana Tweneboa-Boateng was speaking to newsmen when EMPRETEC officially introduced Ms. Augustine E. Hammond of Jem Afrik, producers of afro-ethnic clothing ranging from casual wear to business apparel to evening dresses, as winner of the third prize at the recent United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations (UNCTC) women in business competition in Accra.

The EMPRETEC Director said inadequate road infrastructure, virtually non-existent railway network, few shipping lines and infrequent shipping schedules between Ghana and its major trading countries coupled with very expensive freight rates were a bane to the development of SMEs. Nana Tweneboa-Boateng called on the Government to create an atmosphere that would promote the growth of SMEs to enhance the development of the country.

"The quality, efficiency and sustainability of the economy we develop as a country shall be dictated, beside policy direction, by the depth of entrepreneurship and commitment of entrepreneurs we have in the nation. "That's the more reason why the Government must continue the programme of creating enabling business environment to let the private sector assume its rightful role in the economy." Nana Tweneboa-Boateng also debunked the notion that money and technical skills were the key ingredients to the success of SMEs. He said: "While money and technical skills are important in business, they are not the determinants of success. More important to the success of a business is the right attitude and their associated behaviours."

Nana Tweneboa-Boateng noted that without the right attitudes and associated behaviours, money and technical skills will not lead to success.

Ms Hammond, who recounted the success story of Jem Afrik Creations Limited said it began with a single employee in 1986 but now had 55 permanent employees and 15 trained and mentored workers who had set up their own businesses and function as sub-contractors. Jem Afrik Creations specializes in designer clothes, which are made in Africa from casual wear to summer clothing and evening wear. It also provides church wear, daytime attire and business apparel. She said "The Women in Business Award," would highlight the challenges faced by women in entrepreneurship and provide an incentive for women in all countries to rise to the challenge and become entrepreneurs." Ms Hammond said: "I would like to see my business, which has won contracts to service most of the leading companies in Ghana, as a link up to the global market." She said after attending the maiden edition of the EMPRETEC training workshop in 1990, she became aware of the opportunities that existed in the industry. The awards consist of study tours to selected institutions where innovation is strongest in the domains relevant to the winning businesses. Depending upon the specific needs of the firms involved, the prizes may be used for participation in training, seminars or networking events. 27 May 08