Partner small enterprises - Hannah Tetteh

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Miss Hannah Tetteh has urged large business entities in the country to focus on partnering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into their business operations.
This she explained would help build up local supply chains thus strengthening small businesses in their operations.
These large companies she also said could use this to create market for small businesses if they are seen as a major supply of needed resources thereby creating more job opportunities and compliment government efforts to support SMEs.
Miss Tetteh made these remarks at the opening of the 2nd SME Expo dubbed Business Sense 2012 which is on the theme “Growing Sustainable Enterprises through Finance and Technology” in Accra.
She also explained that although government has put in several measures to help SMEs with a good source of funding, business owners must have a good understanding of their business as well as know the tools that will make their businesses thrive.
She said her ministry through the Business Development Service assists business owners to think through the prospects of their business and to plan effectively.
The Business Development Services Fund she said was also set up to give marching grants for start-up businesses to raise half the amount needed to finance the business.
This she said is done in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Rural Enterprise Project (REP), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and the Export and Development Investment Fund (EDIF) which provides funds for export as well as agriculture.
As part of efforts to promote small businesses in the country, the ministry according to her has designed a website which is currently been run  by the NBSSI and allows businesses to post their information and adverts on the platform at no charge.
Again, Miss Tetteh disclosed that the ministry is developing a website to promote Made- in- Ghana goods which is also been done with the assistance of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
The Event Director of OML Africa, organisers of Business Sense 2012, Mr Paul Asinor in his address at the opening said “the second Ghana SME Expo is for anyone starting a business or expanding a business in Ghana. With a conference, exhibition, one- to- one advice and networking events, it is the perfect opportunity to find all the tools and information to start and develop a profitable and sustainable business in Ghana,”
The event he said had been crafted with the needs of the small business in mind adding that “issues of acquisition of capital and SME funding has been given prominence with a special SME finance Day set aside for delegates to meet banks, venture capitalists, local and foreign institutions.”
Mr Asinor also explained that a lot of attention at this year’s conference is on the utilization of modern technology such as the internet, websites and mobile telephony in improving business processes.
The 3 day conference he said will help exhibitors generate sale leads from new contacts which will culminate into more business and profits as well as establish and enhance linkages between small and large businesses.
Running alongside the conference is a business exhibition where businesses are showcasing their services and products to the audience. Exhibitors at Business Sense 2012 will also have the unique opportunity to network with highly targeted and focused visitors on a face to face basis as well as major decision makers attending the conference.