|
Accra, November 29, 2007
— IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has partnered with BusyInternet, Ghana’s leading information and telecommunications center, to launch a free Web site and toolkit that will provide better access to information and training for Ghanaian businesses.
The Ghana SME Toolkit, to be launched during the first half of 2008, will offer a range of interactive content to support small business owners and managers in seven core business areas: accounting and finance, business planning, human resources, legal and insurance, marketing and sales, operations, and information technology. Through the toolkit, small businesses will be able to access free learning resources and help in implementing sustainable business practices. Businesses will also be able to use it to partner with local support providers and go global by accessing detailed market, investment, and trade information on over 64 countries with the strongest export potential.
Estelle Sowah, BusyInternet’s Managing Director, said, “Small businesses account for the bulk of the private sector in Ghana, yet their success rates are not as high as they should be because of poor access to good business management practices. The SME Toolkit will provide Ghanaian businesses with information and the new collaborative technologies they need to help them grow and prosper.”
Lizabeth Bronder, IFC SME Toolkit Manager, said, “We are delighted to sign this agreement with BusyInternet Services and to add Ghana as one of the African SME Toolkit sites. Having partners that can provide country-specific content, local marketing, and bundled technology services will make the toolkit more relevant for small business clients and entrepreneurs.”
IFC distributes the SME Toolkit in several countries through partnerships with local organizations that can translate the product into local languages and offer relevant content locally in areas such as business regulations, sources of financing, and business directories, as well as support the distribution of the local versions to SMEs in their markets.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. IFC’s vision is that poor people have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized an additional $3.9 billion through loan participations and structured finance for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory services in 97 countries. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
About BusyInternet
Established in 2001, BusyInternet is Ghana’s largest privately operated information and telecommunications center that provides innovative services to meet the needs of businesses and individuals. The company provides reliable, affordable Internet services to the public. With state-of-the-art Internet access facilities, fully serviced executive office suites, digital documentation services, and high-tech training and conferencing facilities, the company serves more than a thousand clients a day. For more information, visit
www.busyinternet.com
.
|
