Proparco, a subsidiary of the French development agency, Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), is set to organize a conference on scaling up successes for Ghanaian SMEs and start-ups.

The event, themed, “Scaling up Ghanaian SMEs and start-ups for sustainable growth the Choose Africa initiative” forms part of ‘Choose Africa’, the French initiative to boost African start-ups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Proparco, Djalal Khimdjee said the initiative seeks to reaffirm its support for African business and support local economic development across the African continent.

He added that Ghana is a key priority for Proparco and the AFD Group since it represents the second largest country in the West African region.

“Ghana accounts for around 20% of the activity for the West Africa office and has a strong developmental potential that Proparco regional management and the local representation wish to reinforce.”

On challenges, he said although local corporates and start-ups play a major role in employment, it is stunted by the lack of adequate and sustainable financing.

Hence the introduction of the Choose Africa initiative under the auspices of the France president, Emmanuel Macron, who pledged to support the African entrepreneurial and innovation impetus in November 2017 in Ouagadougou.

The conference will be a one-day event that will focus on discussions, breakout sessions (training workshop) and networking which will connect owners and CEOs of local corporates, start-ups, banks, investment funds, incubators/accelerators to promote sustainable growth and investment in Ghana.



Djalal Khimdjee revealed that the programme has invested over 2.5 billion euros globally. Proparco disbursed 600 million euros to the West Africa region of which Ghana is a beneficiary.

Reiterating the French government support, Ambassador of France to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave, said her outfit is happy to support Ghanaian entrepreneurs, who she praised for their creativity and competitive prowess.

“We trust Ghana’s competitiveness, we trust Ghana’s creativity, we trust Ghana’s talent and I am very impressed with the kind of entrepreneur society you have. It’s a sign of a dynamic economic society and community and we are very happy to support it. It is a political will to do more and support this area that the French president has decided to increase the budget given to Proparco specifically to invest in African companies

She called for local partners like the financial institutions to jump on the wagon to help unearth thriving and skillful enterprises to spear sustainable growth in the country.