SME Expo Opens in Accra on 24th February

Ghana's biggest expo and conference on small and medium scale enterprises (SME) takes place on February 24 and 25, 2011, at the KAMA Conference Centre in Accra.Dubbed Business Sense 2011, this important business event, organised by OML Africa, is expected to bring together 5,000 exhibition visitors,over 40 exhibitors and 150 conference delegates who will be addresed by renowned local and international speakers with diverse expertise in business.

Business Sense 2011will provide the platform for the exposure of small and medium scale entrepreneurs to business opportunities(especially with the oil find in Ghana), financing options, credit facilities, networking events and the skills required for sustaining and expanding their businesses.SMEs account for about 90 per cent of companies in the country and Business Sense 2011 will seek to further expose such businesses to modern strategies and create the needed linkages between SMEs and big corporate organisations.Participating companies will also be presented with a unique platform to launch their new products and services.

A varied and wide selection of companies from big corporate organisations to micro businesses, are expected to attend and among them will be Ghana Home Loans, Citylink, Godspros Enterprise, Anane KM Enterprise, Parcel Unique Services, Seahath Canning Company (India),Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Multi-Auto Garage Service Centre, Pixel Studios and Solutions, Ejims Craft Centre(Nigeria) and Europair (South Africa).Others include Kasante ID Systems, Taxi Adverts Ghana, Ghana Business Register, Tet Glass Beads Industry, Oliben Foundry, Prime Logistics, GroConsult, Bany Laboratories, Gravies Group and many other reputable SMEs. Exhibitors will have the unique platform to showcase their products and services to an over 5,000 business-oriented audience and also build their sales leads whilst networking with major decision-makers in the Ghanaian business industry.

Paul Asinor,Event Director of OML Africa, told the Daily Graphic that Business Sense 2011 was unique as it primarily sought to contribute to the development of, growth and sustainablity of SMEs in the country. He explains, "Most SME conferences are organized with their prime focus on motivational speaking, but small businesses needed more than motivation.Therefore, the Business Sense 2011 Conference will rather focus primarily on much-needed relevant and practical content across all sectors of business that will assist entrepreneurs and business owners improve their profits whiles saving on costs most especially ina rapidly changing and competitive global market.From business plans, access to capital, modern sales and marketing techniques to customer service, the use of the internet in modern business, human resource,delegates will be taken through an intensive learning programme at the Business Sense 2011 conference".

He confirmed that apart from the wide spectrum of businesses that would be participating in the expo, the very best and experienced practitioners in the SME field have been invited to share their knowledge and skills.

Among them will be Dr Dan Quaye, lecturer of the University of Ghana Business School; the Founder of Procall Solutions and Vice Chair, Ghana South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Jeanine Bowen, and Douglas Oppong, Managing Director of Angel Finance Group, UK. Others are Prince Amoako-Nuamah, National Treasurer, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce; Matthew Boadu Adjei, founder and CEO of Oasis Capital;Peter Gyateng, General Manager of Kingdom Books;Kojo Amissah, Lead Executive of the Commonwealth Institute of Technology and Management; Charles Nornoo, Executive Director, Development Solutions Centre, managers of the USA Development Fund;Dr Esi Ansah, founder of Axis Human Capital; and Miss Anita Wiafe, MD of OML Africa, human resource experts in Africa.

.
Other top experts will be from Ghana Private Sector Development Facility (who will speak on how to acess the Ghanaian-Italian credit facility for local businesses), VAT Service, Registrar General's Department, and other institutions in SME development in the country.Giving a brief of one of the speakers, Mr Asinor said Douglas Oppong will speak on "How Not To Let The Bank Say "No" To Your Business Finance Proposal," drawing from his rich experience as Founder and Managing Director of Angel Finance Group in the UK. Angel Finance Group UK, established in 2005, raised in excess of £250million for various companies in UK, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa- mainly through Equity and Venture capital.

Delegates at Business Sense 2011 include entrepreneurs, CEOs, MDs, business owners, Managing Partners,Executive Directors from over 100 SMEs including FC Beauty Group, Rulwilkan Group Ltd, Kristo Asafo, Adansi Rural Bank, Mawood Drinkables, Ninash, Rapnet Pharmaceuticals, Krispat Ear Centre, ROWI, Gentrac Investments, Abara Gas, Ataade Patterns,Crystal Knight Ventures, Joy Standard Schools, Dorwill Travel and Tours, etc.

Concluding, Paul Asinor encouraged all SMEs to take advantage of this important expo and conference to enhance their efficiency, competitivenes and profits as that is the only way to ward off foreign companies, eager to cash in on the opportunities presented by the recent oil find at the expense of Ghanaian businesses.

For more information, call 0206367515 or email: [email protected] or visit the website http://www.businesssensegh.com