AGI, Ghana Water, and Strategic Partners Launch Major Initiatives to Boost SME Sustainability and Export Readiness

11th June•3 min read•9 sources

A wave of new strategic initiatives led by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Water Ltd, and various private sector partners is set to transform Ghana's business landscape. These efforts focus on enhancing sustainability, export readiness, and operational efficiency for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which remain the backbone of the national economy. At the forefront is the Sustainable African Value-Chain Initiative (SAVI), a three-year program launched by the AGI in collaboration with the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI). Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SAVI aims to equip local businesses with training in decarbonization and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance to improve their global competitiveness.

Complementing these high-level industrial strategies are localized empowerment programs designed to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. The Ghana Youth and Women Economic Empowerment (GWYESCO) project, supported by the African Development Bank and the Social Investment Fund, was recently launched to provide structured business incubation and digital skills training through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). Simultaneously, the Sinapi Aba Mentorship Programme is currently pairing 300 young business owners with experienced mentors in Kumasi. Over its seven-year history, this initiative has been instrumental in reducing business failure rates and fostering job creation by emphasizing fundamental business practices and industry networking.

In the artisanal and manufacturing sectors, leadership is calling for a shift toward innovation and improved value chains. In the Upper West Region, Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing urged members of the Ghana Association of Weavers and Leather Workers (GAWA) to adopt digital marketing and innovative techniques to reach international markets. This call for modernization is echoed by industry experts like Abigail Deku of EPAC Flexible Packaging West Africa, who highlighted that inadequate packaging remains a significant hurdle for many SMEs, particularly in agribusiness. She advocated for flexible packaging solutions as a critical investment to extend shelf life and enhance the visual appeal of "Made-in-Ghana" products against international competitors.

Furthermore, state-owned enterprises are pursuing aggressive diversification strategies to bolster the economy. Ghana Water Ltd (GWL) has officially inaugurated the Board of Directors for its subsidiary, G-Water Bottling Limited. This move is part of a broader strategy to leverage GWL's water quality expertise to generate additional revenue and create jobs within the bottled water market. Together, these multifaceted initiatives represent a coordinated effort to address critical gaps in financing, mentorship, and sustainability, laying the groundwork for a more resilient, export-oriented private sector in Ghana.

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AGI, Ghana Water, and Strategic Partners Launch Major Initiatives to Boost SME Sustainability and Export Readiness

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