|
SMEs seek adequate funding
Accra, Sept. 12, Ghanadot/GNA - Members
of the Accra Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ARCCI)
on Wednesday called on its executive council to facilitate
funding for their companies and firms to enable them to
produce quality goods and package them to meet international
standards.
They told the 516th General meeting of the ARCCI in Accra
that lack of funds was crippling their businesses because
although they had the knowledge and skills to move their
businesses forward accessing the necessary funds remained a
problem.
They also urged their leadership to facilitate activities on
trade missions and accreditation to such missions to enhance
their chances of participation.
Mr. Douglas A. Boateng, President of ARCCI, gave the
assurance that their concerns would be addressed in due
course to give everybody a fair playing ground.
Mr. Boateng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of
Continental Christian Traders Limited, said they would try
to furnish members with website addresses of organisers of
trade missions to assist them to get enough information from
such fairs.
Nana Tweneboa-Boateng of EMPRETEC Ghana, said the private
sector over the years had failed to drive the economy
because it lacked the necessary training, knowledge and
funds to make their dream materialise.
He said EMPRETEC Ghana, apart from giving entrepreneurs
adequate skills and knowledge, also assisted them in
financing services to ensure that the money they gave them
was impacting positively on their businesses.
"No business-minded person who is doing well with his
business will refuse to pay back loans advanced to him…," he
said.
Nana Tweneboa-Boateng urged members to keep their accounts
clean and clear as that would tell the strength of their
companies.
Mr. Ekow Dennis, Business Development Manager of LEASAFRIC,
a leasing firm, stressed the need for the introduction of
SMEs to financial leasing as that did not need any
collateral or long period to access.
Mr. Dennis said in so doing, SMEs needed to be very sure
that they dealt with competent companies producing quality
equipment and a qualified engineer to install them after
purchase as the leasing firms would not accept any
responsibility of damage.
Naa Asi Ocansey, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Goldtech
Consultancy, said most firms in Ghana lacked the capacity to
package their goods to compete effectively with their
counterparts at international fairs.
She said her outfit would be organising three-trade missions
each in the United Kingdom and the United States of America
for local art and craft firms.
"One thing that we will consider is to bring experts to
assist these local firms to package their goods neatly and
also equip them to harness the opportunity to meet deadlines
for orders."
Naa Ocansey advised businessmen to take trade missions
seriously and not use them as opportunities to send their
wards abroad to work or attend school.
GNA
|
