Technische training en materialen nodig om handel tussen West Afrika en EU te versterken (en)
PRESS RELEASE No 160 /2009 |
10 December 2009 |
Access to Training and Equipment: keys to business success between West Africa and European Union
During a workshop of three hours held in Bamako, Mali on 8 December 2009 , business leaders from across the region highlighted that access to relevant technical training and access to equipment were the solution to creating business growth in West Africa and to increasing business with the European Union.
This workshop was a joint initiative of the Employers Group of European Economic & Social Committee (EESC) and the Centre for the Development of Enterprises (CDE).
The 25 participants were all entrepreneurs and also represented business organisations from the region including International Business Consulting (IBC) , Circle for Enterprise and Social Initiatives (CEIS), Junior Chamber International (IBC), and Women Entrepreneurs Network.
Madi Sharma representing the Employers Group of the EESC highlighted that “the development of relations between business in Europe and West Africa would not only create greater opportunities for trading and profitability but would lead to the creation of jobs, investment in skills and innovation as well as supporting better standards of education, health and housing working towards the alleviation of poverty.”
Whilst the initial list of challenges ranged from a requirement for capacity building - knowledge, partnerships, cooperation, expertise and skills development to the management of growth, entrepreneurs felt that assistance in the knowledge of standards and meeting the criteria, especially in agriculture, food and engineering sectors would allow them to be more competitive.
Mamadou Ndiaye from IBC , chairing the seminar said “simple measures such as implementing a database of business contacts in Europe and West Africa would facilitate the transfer of knowledge and the development of cooperation”.
Awareness raising of West Africa and its businesses was also a key priority as today globalisation opens the door to new markets and increased opportunities. The participants made a commitment to lobby government to promote and better support small business across the region by following the European Union's example of “Think Small First” as outlined in the EU Small Business Act.
The Employers' Group of the European Economic & Social Committee -wishes to initiate a dialogue to build partnerships and cooperation with businesses in West Africa. The Bamako Fair brought together many business organisations and individual businesses from the region and it is felt to be an ideal opportunity to begin a process of long term development.
The Employers' Group of the EESC is made up of representatives of European business organisations, notably BUSINESSEUROPE, EUROCHAMBRES and UEAPME, individual businesses and entrepreneurs. It is hoped that the workshop open up the discussions on how to take forward business development between Western African commercial activities and EU business.
The objective was to look at the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses on both sides, the promotion of entrepreneurship and SMEs in West Africa and how EU models and funds could be used to support further development. Additionally female and youth entrepreneurship was also analysed.
In the first instant Ms Madi Sharma representing the Employers' Group facilitated the discussion in the workshop with the support of CDE. For the next event the inclusion of other speakers from EU institutions involved in the funding of business projects in Africa, notably DG Development, could also participate in the event, as well as financial institutions particularly those with a strength in Microfinance.
The workshop formed the basis of developing a long term relationship to strengthen cooperation and partnerships with the view to holding a serious business conference to address the issues raised either in Europe or Western Africa in 2010. This would include a review of potential funding mechanisms to support the work long term.
Furthermore the events could raise important issues to not only build a dialogue between entrepreneurs but also between business and political decision makers to propose concrete measures to improve the cooperation and partnership process between West African and European businesses and trade conditions.
For more information please contact:
Sabrina Tesoka
Group I
European Economic and Social Committee
Mali: IBC/CEIS
Mamadou Ndiaye
Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99 - 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel - BELGIQUE/BELGIË
Tel. +32 25469396 - Fax +32 25469764
E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu - Internet: www.eesc.europa.eu
EN