<p>MSM: Hello, and welcome to ;My ;Story Magazine. We are privileged and elated to have with us ;Her Excellency Anne-Sophie Avé ;&#8211; ;I call her ;versatile. ;You&#8217;re welcome. ;</p>



<p>H E: ;Thank you.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.mystorymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CEE4D85D-2E8E-4A49-9C4A-F550502C3D69-724x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-10404"/></figure>



<p><strong>DISCUSSIONS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP</strong></p>



<p>MSM: What are your thoughts on the idea of entrepreneurship in Africa? What do you think Africa is doing differently when it comes to entrepreneurship? Or what did you think that Africa or even particularly Ghana needs to develop when it comes to the subject of entrepreneurship?</p>



<p class="has-black-color has-white-background-color has-text-color has-background">HE: I think what ;Ghanaian entrepreneurs ;need to develop is their ;self-confidence. They have incredible creativity, ;dynamism, enthusiasm and yet they are facing hurdles. Access to capital is one, structuring governance is another one. ;It&#8217;s a different job being creative, ;innovative, making a product or a service, and then running a company that is something quite formal. After all, ;they ;have to be able to present and pitch ;their ;business to bankers and these bankers or investment partners will need ;a ;formal presentation so that they can see where the entrepreneurs want to go ;and know how to ;get ;on board. And I think that they have the first ingredients; enthusiasm, dynamism, creativity, genius sometimes, ;and ;what ;they ;need ;is help ;for ;them ;to ;grow from a brilliant idea, ;test and experience ;it to see if it ;is working on a small scale to grow up to a bigger scale. I think that ;there is such a strong dynamic ;in Ghana, ;hence ;so many people ;who are creative and want ;to run their business say ;“I cannot start a business until I have capital, and I need capital to start a business”. ;Yes, indeed you may need ;some capital, but when you look at the businesses that are ;now international, for instance ;I&#8217;m thinking of ;one ;French ;shop ;that you can now find at every corner of every street, ;which is ;called Nicolas. The guy started by buying one bottle of wine and selling it back. ;With ;the little profit, he bought another bottle and then sold it and then made ;more ;profit. ;He was able to buy two bottles and sell them, ;and with the little profit ;continued the process. ;He started ;very small ;and he ;is ;now ;selling millions of bottles everywhere in France and internationally. So yes, you may need a little money to start buying the first bottle, but thinking too big from the very beginning ;is ;not necessary. I see many ;entrepreneurs who have a good idea and come and say, I need a million to get started. It cannot work like that, you should start very small to test the market, your product, your services, and if you can show that it works on a small scale, then you will find partners who will say, okay, let&#8217;s expand.</p>



<p><strong>DISCUSSIONS ON SMEs ;</strong></p>



<p>MSM: How ;are ;you helping people from France to be able to set up properly here in Ghana? ;In this era of digitization, ;are ;there any projects that the ;Embassy is focusing on ;with regards to ;startups or SMEs in Ghana and ;as well as ;in France?</p>



<p>HE: There are two different ;things. ;On one hand, we are helping French companies to settle here by explaining the regulations and the business climate ;in Ghana. On the other hand, we are helping Ghanaian ;startups and ;SMEs to develop through grants ;and ;loans with better rates.</p>



<p>Digitization is another thing that we are doing ;by ;helping companies to go digital ;and ;to be able to sell their products through ;online ;platforms. ;</p>



<p>We are also working on a project that would be like a virtual business centre, ;where ;companies ;would be able to ;find every information they need; ;from the regulations, tax-payments, ;how to start a business, how to make a provisional budget, how to do strategic marketing communication, ;and ;how to improve theirgovernance. One would also be able to learn how ;to ;prepare the necessary documents ;so that ;they ;can go and meet bankers or investors ;to ;pitch ;their ;company ;or ;project.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.mystorymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/34C887D5-B36F-4546-A7FE-5B12A816D517.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-10503"/></figure>

Discussions on SMEs and Entrepreneurship with the French Ambassador to Ghana – H.E Anne-Sophie Avé
- Categories: Business, Entrepreneurship
Related Content
My Story Magazine Unveils 22nd Edition: Shaping the Future with Strategy & Purpose
by
Nana Akwasi Bonsu
September 16, 2025
My Story Magazine Launches 21st Edition Celebrating Women Empowerment
by
Nana Akwasi Bonsu
July 1, 2025
My Story Magazine Launches 20th Edition Celebrating African Entrepreneurship and Resilience
by
Nana Akwasi Bonsu
April 28, 2025