A Total of 59 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Ashanti region have exhibited their products at a mega trade fair organized by SNV Netherlands Development Organization, green Ghana project.
The SMEs who are either enrolled or have graduated from SNV’s 6-month GrEEn Incubation and GrEEn Acceleration Programmes that provide business advisory support to green and eco-inclusive businesses and entrepreneurs, are exhibited their products and services that are made using methods that do not harm the environment, is eco-friendly or makes use of waste materials.
The businesses are from SNV’s three sectors: agriculture, renewable energy and energy efficiency and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation is a not-for-profit international development organisation that makes a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty by helping them raise incomes and access basic services, especially in agriculture, renewable energy and Water, which is present in over 25 countries.
The 2022 GrEEn Regional Trade Show is part of the Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) Project being implemented by SNV Ghana and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) with funding from the European Union and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Speaking about the event, the business advisory director of the green project Mr. Frederick Acquah stated that “the project aims at creating greater economic and employment opportunities for youth, women and returning migrants by promoting and supporting sustainable, green businesses and providing employable skills training to youth job seekers in two selected regions in Ghana”.
“SNV Ghana has partnered with Ghana Export Promotion Centre, Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ministry of Trade and Industry to help boost local business in the country” he quipped.
According to him, the Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) project is a four-year action from the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, SNV Netherlands Development Organization and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
He said GrEEn is implemented under the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa with a total contribution of EUR 20,600,000 the GrEEn Project has 4 result areas: SNV handles Result 2 and 4 and UNCDF handles Result 1 and 3.
Under Result 4 he indicated, SNV works at providing incubation and acceleration services to entrepreneurs and business owners who are in the green and circular economy.
The 6-months training is carried out by SNV’s business hub partners in the two regions: Recycle Up! Ghana and Women’s Haven Africa in the Ashanti Region, and U-hub from the University of Mines and Technology-Tarkwa, Social Entrepreneurship (SE) Hub and Duapa Werkspace in the Western Region.
The project manager Mr. Sadda Laouali speaking in an interview says the project will change many lives before it ends.
He said, the Ashanti and Western regions are the two regions to benefit from the project and are working to the sustainability of the project to benefit others.
He said the only means of enhancing the economic development of a country is to support SMEs through the youth of that country.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com/ Isaac Ann
