By Juliet Etefe
Copyright thebftonline
By Juliet ETEFE ([email protected])
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and German Development Cooperation (GIZ), through the Invest for Jobs initiative, have successfully concluded the African small- and medium-sized enterprise SME Network for Exchange and Trade (AfNEXT) project.
The project supported 57 SMEs to boost their growth, competitiveness and export-readiness.
The two-year project, which ran from October 2023 to September 2025, provided training for key personnel from each participating SME in areas such as quality management, international marketing and occupational safety and health.
It was complemented by customised in-factory coaching delivered by experts and tailored to the specific needs of each enterprise.
With SMEs facing a financing gap of nearly US$331billion across Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated US$4.8billion in Ghana alone, AfNEXT sought to bridge this gap by facilitating and co-financing the procurement of more than 200 pieces of machinery and equipment for beneficiary SMEs to boost their production capacity and efficiency.
In an address on behalf of Chief Executive Officer-AGI Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, AGI Director of Finance and Administration Nathaniel Quarcoopome stressed that empowering SMEs, which form the backbone of Ghana’s economy, is critical to sustaining industrial development.
“Throughout this period, 57 SMEs across various sectors benefitted directly from the project. They received classroom training, tailored coaching and equipment support to enhance food safety, quality assurance, occupational health & safety and business management,” Mr. Quarcoopome said.
He added that 10 enterprises gained international exposure through participation in trade fairs and exhibitions abroad, opening doors for new partnerships and market access.
Through cooperation with sequa gGmbH, export-oriented enterprises engaged in joint learning and exchange sessions with enterprises from Egypt and Ethiopia and were supported to attend trade fairs across Europe, Africa and other regions.
Team Leader of Invest for Jobs at GIZ Ghana, John C. Duti, underscored the uniqueness of AfNEXT which combines three main elements: training, in-factory coaching and co-financing machinery and equipment.
“Through this support, the project has enhanced productivity, competitiveness and job creation potential for more than 50 Ghanaian SMEs,” he noted.
He added that installation and use of modern equipment enables SMEs to improve their efficiency while saving money through reduced wastage of utilities such as water and electricity, as well as other resources. “This makes an important contribution to a Just Transition, whereby our economy becomes not only more inclusive but also more eco-friendly.”
Mr. Duti congratulated all SME beneficiaries for their commitment, reiterating: “Strong SMEs are the backbone of a strong Ghana. We are confident that you will continue to thrive, create more jobs and drive industrial transformation”.
Beyond Ghana, AfNEXT was also implemented in Egypt and Ethiopia, creating opportunities for exchange between African enterprises.
The project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the Special Initiative ‘Decent Work for a Just Transition’, is expected to generate over 300 decent jobs in Ghana by strengthening SME production capacities and unlocking international trade opportunities.
