Ghana, Japan deepen ties to strengthen SMEs

The nation has taken a bold step to deepen its cooperation with Japan in the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), following high-level bilateral talks between the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and Japan’s Small and Medium Enterprises Agency on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).

The discussions, which took place from 20 to 22 August and were facilitated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), centred on three priority areas: financing for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), capacity building for entrepreneurs and service providers, and the application of digital technology to enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses.

GEA Chief Executive Officer, Margaret Ansei, who led Ghana’s delegation, stressed that Japan’s strong experience in SME development provides valuable lessons that Ghana can adapt to strengthen its private sector.

She was accompanied by the Chairman of the GEA Board, Professor Nathaniel Bosso, and UNIDO’s Deputy Director General, Yuko Yasunaga.

Both Ghana and Japan pledged to intensify cooperation, with a focus on building resilient SMEs that can contribute more significantly to job creation, industrial growth and exports.

“Partnerships such as this are crucial for equipping our entrepreneurs with the tools and skills they need to compete globally,” Ms Ansei noted.

In a separate engagement during the conference, the GEA CEO joined a high-level panel discussion where she shared Ghana’s progress in digitising manufacturing operations.

She highlighted a joint initiative between the GEA and UNIDO aimed at introducing digital solutions on Ghanaian factory floors to improve efficiency, reduce production costs and foster innovation across industries.

The panel, which brought together policymakers and business leaders from Africa and Asia, examined how digital transformation can accelerate industrialisation on the continent.

Ms Ansei emphasised that digitalisation is no longer optional but a necessity for African businesses seeking to penetrate global value chains.

Also participating in TICAD 9 was Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, who delivered the keynote address. She called on African nations to embrace digital strategies and regional cooperation to modernise their economies and expand industrial capacity.

“We cannot afford to be left behind in the digital revolution. Africa must harness technology to unlock growth and development,” she urged.