Abigail Swad Laryea
The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has launched the fourth Presidential Pitch to help boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
The pitch is an integrated policy initiative by the NEIP with the mandate to turn creative businesses into global business giants with the support of government for job creation.
Addressing journalist at a press conference in Accra, Deputy CEO, of NEIP, Abigail Swad Laryea, indicated that the Presidential Pitch seeks to turn creative businesses in sectors such as Agriculture, Fintech and Technology, Manufacturing and processing, Tourism and the creative arts, TVET, and any other economically viable area around.
“The presidential pitch is a business competition, a revolution in Ghana’s history for young entrepreneurs, serving as an incubating platform for existing businesses and capital funding from the government in an effort to encourage our youth who are into businesses “ she added.
The Director of Business Support, NEIP, Franklin Karikari, has underscored the effort made by the government through the implementation of innovative-driven initiatives geared toward building an eco-friendly and resilient environment that supports business startup and development.
According to him, government initiatives such as the ‘Presidential Pitch’ seek to build an industry-driven economy capable of providing decent jobs that are suitable and sustainable for development.
“This has translated into the country securing a 95 place on the global innovative index as against the 107 placement it occupied in 2018. Ghana is also ranked among the top five African countries with the most resilient startup ecosystems and innovation,” he said.
Mr. Karikari emphasized that these successes prove that the government is making headway in championing innovation and building an economically friendly environment for startup development in the country.
Yaa Aduba Asare, a beneficiary of the Presidential Pitch in an interview with a journalist urged young innovative entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity NEIP presents to expand their operations.
“The Presidential Pitching is a real opportunity I won’t encourage young business people to miss. I applied for it via the NEIP website portal www.neip.gov.gh and I was shortlisted and now I am a proud beneficiary of the programme besides my poultry business is booming like never before”, she commented.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke