Plenary session 2: Fostering collaboration between Ghanaian and European entrepreneurial ecosystems – investing in young businesses in Ghana under the EU Global Gateway Strategy

The Team Europe initiative ‘Investing in Young Businesses in Africa’ (TEI IYBA) brings together the EU, 10 EU MS, the EIB, the EBRD, and EDFI. The TEI IYBA is a Global Gateway flagship initiative aiming at boosting access to concessional finance and strengthening the business and investment enabling environment for MSMEs.

This plenary session brings together entrepreneurs from early- to mid-stage businesses and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across various sectors, alongside local and regional ecosystem stakeholders such as private investors, European development partners, finance institutions and Entrepreneurial support organisations (ESOs) – to explore strategies for fostering collaboration between Ghanaian and European entrepreneurial ecosystems.

The overall objective is to find pathways and practical strategies to support the needs and overcome critical challenges faced by Ghanaian entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses. How can local, regional and European ecosystem stakeholders can contribute to creating a vibrant environment that nurtures innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity by leveraging Ghana's rich human capital, natural resources, and strategic location? How can we foster investments in youth businesses in Ghana under the EU Global Gateway Strategy? How to unlock new markets and funding opportunities?In the end, how can African and European stakeholders and partners support Ghana to become the leading entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem on the continent? The role of policy makers and the government entities supporting entrepreneurs and setting the stage for an enabling environment for entrepreneurs will be discussed.