In order to provide opportunities for MSMEs in the agriculture value chain, and as a sequel to a bootcamp held in Accra, Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) has organized a five days Business Booster in Tamale.
The business booster is aimed at strengthening existing agri-MSMEs, improving their investor readiness and exposing them to potential funding for the development of their agribusinesses.
It targeted Agri MSMEs from the Northern, Upper West and Bono East regions who are three years and above.
The boot camp is a four-year $16 million programme aligned with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works’ vision and work in Ghana.
In an interview with FiilaNews, the Executive Director of KIC, Nii Tackie Otu noted that KICs capacity building mission aims at supporting businesses to be investor ready, create jobs and also increase incomes.
This according to him is to help reduce poverty among small holder farmers and these businesses are used as a conduit to achieve that goal.
Mr. Otu revealed their vision to organize an investor fair in the future, to bring investors closer to these businesses to enable them pitch their businesses and get some partnership opportunities.
The five days training took participants through book keeping, access to financing, marketing, creating jobs and partnerships among others.
Some of the businesses owners who spoke to FiilaNews expressed gratitude to the organizers for the opportunity stating the training will change the whole dimension to their work.
Mr. Mohammed Saani, the manger for B-Diet noted that, after the training he hopes to employ an expert to keep financial records of his business, because he noted he has been doing so wrongly.
Another participant Ms Nazia Ibrahim noted that the boot camp has been an eye opener for her and her business and has brought her closer to farmers she is looking forward to partnering with. She appealed to organizers to extend the initiative to benefit more MSMEs in the north.
Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) is a CSIR of Cosmos Energy, a leading deep-water exploration and production company focused on meeting the world’s growing demand for energy.
KIC invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have big ideas and want to see their country grow.
Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif
