Business ACP

Happening now! Start of the 1st Global SME Ministerial Meeting, organised by the International Trade Center (ITC), in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. More info here 👉intracen.org/news-and-event…

The @PressACP has facilitated the participation of three régional startups at the second edition of the Start-Up Mahakumbh Expo, held in New Delhi, India from April 3 to 5, 2025. These start-ups Kahuto Pacific (Fiji), Entrepreneurs of Greatness (St.Lucia), and AI Innovators Laboratory (Trinidad and Tobago) were nominated to participate by @PIPSOpacific and the CARIBEquity Programmes respectively. The opportunity is a direct result of the OACPS-Invest India MoU signed in July 2023.

Get ready for the next Virtual Innovators Hub Masterclass! 🗓️Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM CET 💡 "No-Code & Low-Code Platforms: Building Scalable Organizations & Products Without Developers". Register 👉: bit.ly/SpringSeries20…

Happening today! The OACPS Secretariat delivered the opening remarks at the 3rd African Forum on Mining. This event is being held at @AfricanUnion in Addis Ababa, to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the African Mining Vision. Find out more: 👉The OACPS Position Paper on Critical Raw Materials: businessacp.com/wp-content/upl…

Register today for the #CARIBEquity virtual master class series designed to equip #startups and entrepreneurial support organizations with cutting-edge tools and strategies to boost #innovation. à bit.ly/SpringSeries20… @EUinBarbados @PressACP @BusinessACP

#Privatesectordevelopment in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific: 📋Key takeaways! ✅Stronger public-private dialogue for sustainable investment ✅#WomenandYoungEntrepreneurs need better access to finance & training ✅Boosting local value chains to ensure sustainable economic resilience. ✅Blended finance models will unlock SME growth The future of OACPS Private Sector Development is NOW! #EconomicResilience @InvestinACP @UNIDO_Brussels @PressACP #ICR Facility @colead_link @DevelopmentMin @Proparco @agrifi @WorldBank @ITCnews @UNDPEU @giz_gmbh

“We have a longstanding tradition of working closely with the European Commission. As allies, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of development” said Junior Lodge, Assistant Secretary General of the @PressACP .

Day 2 at Shaping the Future: Advancing Private Sector Development for a Resilient & Prosperous #OACPS! Honored to host 🇹🇹 H.E. Colin Connelly & Amb. @AkadiriAminou at the @UNIDO @InvestinACP booth—driving partnerships for sustainable growth! #InvestinACP #UNIDO

Marco Parolin @EU_Partnerships explained: “The Global Gateway has been guiding our strategy since 2021, and its influence is expanding across various domains. It provides a clearer focus on key themes and areas. Through this framework, we aim to build mutually beneficial relationships with countries worldwide” @PressACP

Kevin Ramkaloan, CEO of @busmauritius noted that “There is still much work to be done at regional level in terms of connectivity, digitalisation, knowledge sharing, and peer learning. ”

Sharing the experience of @UNIDO_Brussels , Christophe Yvetot underlined the importance of #industrialisation: "Some countries strive to greatness alone, while others choose to collaborate and grow together. Thanks to the progress made in private sector through this EU-OACPS collaboration, we now have the essential know-how to improve and grow again.” @CYvetot_ @PressACP @InvestinACP

Patricia Francis, Member of the Board Directors of Jamaica Producers declared: “We lack supporting mechanisms around our businesses. Industries can create opportunities by also developing essential services. A strong partnership between public and private sectors is needed to foster a policy environment that enables businesses to thrive” @Jamprocorp .

"“Ownership and planning while involving local actors are crucial. We cannot truly understand local needs unless we collaborate with local actors” said Sven Huyssen, Director of Operations of @Enabel_Belgium

Happening now! Closing panel of the High-Level Dialogue on Private Sector Development, organised by the @PressACP .

“SMEs are often seen as high-risk, making it difficult to them to secure investments. To address this, we need to extend guarantees. With the support of EU and OACPS through EURIZ, we have been able to take on more risk and provide greater financial access to SMEs” explained Yann Jacquemin, chef-Garanties pour le développement @Proparco. @PressACP

Dr. Damie Sinanan, Executive Director of @CaribXport shared the experience of the Caribbean region: "Most financing is provided through traditional lending, with all funding channeled through DFIs. To access these financial resources, it is crucial to enhance the bankability of enterprises, making them more attractive to investors and lenders” @PressACP @EUinBarbados

“Access to finance remains a critical priority for East Africa too, as highlighted in our discussions over the past days. While a definitive solution has yet to be found, these conversations can laid the groundwork for progress” noted Charles Kahuthu, CEO of @EACCIA . @PressACP @EUinKenya

“I&P establish local investment funds managed by local investment teams, providing financial support at the community level and raising funds locally. These investments specifically target very small enterprises, fostering grassroots economic growth” explained Sébastien Boyé, co-CEO of Investment & Partners, during his intervention at the High-level Dialogue on Private Sector development, held in Brussels on 13 and 14 February.