Business startups and entrepreneurs to gain as Organisations collaborate to launch Centre of entrepreneurship in Africa.
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and International Chamber of Commerce have jointly launched Centres of Entrepreneurship in Africa.
The entrepreneurship centers will develop the skills of young people who face employment problems by mentoring local start-ups and entrepreneurs. The centres are expected to develop the next generation of African business leaders.
With strategic locations across Africa, the ECA and ICC Centres of Entrepreneurship will work with various stakeholders, including businesses, chambers of commerce, academic institutions, NGO’s and governmental agencies. The aim is to connect local entrepreneurs to global markets and develop regulatory conditions for SMEs to thrive.
Speaking during the virtual launch on 16 September this year, Oliver Chinganya, Director of the Africa Centre for Statistics at the ECA, said “the launch of the Centres of Entrepreneurship comes at the right time when Africa is trying to build back better from the effects of Covid-19. We believe that these centres, based in different regions of the continent, and with tailor-made solutions, can mobilize the next generation of entrepreneurship in Africa.”
He also mentioned that Africa has the highest rate of new business creation, and that youth on the continent are more likely to be entrepreneurs, addressing challenges of high youth unemployment.
These initiatives come at a time when the economic landscape is changing globally. The government of Zimbabwe is making efforts towards empowering youths to be innovative by promoting entrepreneurship as a key component to their strategy of meeting the goal of economic prosperity.
