EU launches £17.3 million green project
The European Union (EU) has launched a £ 17.3-million Green, Digital and Inclusive Private Sector Development (GDI PSD) project aimed at promoting greener businesses in the country.
It was launched in collaboration with the Kingdom of Netherlands, France and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), with Expertise France, Netherlands Enterprises Agency (RVO) and the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MOTAI) as the implementing partners.
The four-year project would offer targeted support to some sectors of the economy, including the creative and heritage industries and the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
Speaking at the launch of the project, EU Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Rune Skinnebach, said that it was important to support entrepreneurs in the country as the private sector was the engine for sustainable economic growth, job creation, and innovation.
According to him, the programme would help improve access to innovative and inclusive finance for entrepreneurs, remove regulatory bottlenecks and build an internationally-exposed Ghanaian business ecosystem, and build the capacity of entrepreneurs to adopt green and digital solutions.
Mr Skinnebach also said the project would focus on women-led and youth-led small businesses, start-ups, and innovative entrepreneurs in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and beyond.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the EU to Ghana’s sector development, saying “We look forward to working hand in hand with all of you to turn ambition into impact, and to building a greener, more digital and more inclusive future for Ghana.”
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Ghana, Mr Jeroen Verheul, urged the government to create a conducive business climate or environment to enable small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) thrive and also assist them to become part of the formal sector of the economy.
The Ambassador of France to Ghana, Mrs Diarra Dimé-Labille, said that the project was a reflection of the commitment of France to support Ghana’s economic and private sector growth.
“Since 2019, Expertise France has deployed nine experts in Ghana, three of whom are actively supporting national and regional in the private sector,” Mrs Dimé-Labille observed.
For his part, the UNCDF Resident Representative in Ghana, Mr Niloy Banerjee, said his outfit would provide the needed technical expertise to ensure that entrepreneurs were equipped with the requisite skills to enhance their business.
The Director of Foreign Trade and Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs Stella Akosua Ansah, who represented the sector minister, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the government was expectant that the outcome of the project would position Ghana into the regional ladder and drive job creation in the country.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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