Nairobi entrepreneurship summit to increase networking opportunities

The Global Entrepreneurship Summit currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya could be an opportunity for small and medium entrepreneurs in the region to network and become part of a global network of entrepreneurs. The summit which was officially opened yesterday, with US president Barack Obama expected to attend today, brings together entrepreneurs, investors and government representatives from across the world to showcase innovative projects, and exchange new ideas with an aim to spur economic opportunities. The sixth summit since 2009 has a special focus on generating new investments for entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women and youth. The various panel discussions and sessions are themed around various emerging issues shaping the global business circles with panelists and speakers drawn from experts and players in the respective areas. Among the topics to be covered in the three-day summit include financing entrepreneurship, protecting intellectual capital, linking to international supply chains and intra-regional trade, among other topics. Rwanda is represented by a nine member delegation made up of civil society and social entrepreneurs invited by the United States government. They include, Dr Agnes Kalibata, the president of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa- AGRA, Colombe Ndutiye Ituze, Kigali- based fashion designer and Rosine Urujeni the country director of Indego Africa among others. Louis-Antoine Muhire, the founder and chief executive of Mergims firm facilitating Diaspora remittance, who is also part of the delegation, said apart from the deliberations, the summit also creates a networking opportunity for regional firms with global enterprises. Muhire said firms like his and others in the region will greatly benefit from the visibility and access to western investors and an overall impact on the economic growth of the nation. She predicted that after the summit there is likely to be increased interest by foreign investors in the region and partnerships between regional entrepreneurs and multi-nationals. Augustin Rwabukayire, the Director of Entrepreneurship at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), said beyond the panelist sessions the summit would draw emerging regional entrepreneurs in a global network that is paramount in small and medium enterprise promotion. “The opportunity to network and share ideas with other small and medium enterprises from across the world is one of the highlights of such summits. They are able to benchmark with their colleagues, boosting their business profiles in the process,” Rwabukayire said. He added that the platform would also be beneficial for regional entrepreneurs seeking new markets, partnerships and mergers opportunities with other firms. The summit has been positioned as a global platform connecting emerging entrepreneurs with leaders from business, international organisations, and governments. This is the first time the international Global Entrepreneurship Summit will be hosted in sub-Saharan Africa. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Nairobi entrepreneurship summit to increase networking opportunities