It is possible that young African entrepreneurs will emerge to gain market share internationally, according to Didier Akotey, head of Africa Search. He was speaking in Bamako on January 10, during a Side Event on entrepreneurship, the recommendations of which will be forwarded to heads of state and government scheduled to take part in the Africa-France summit.
“The good woman who sells roadside donuts is an entrepreneur, the one who sells roadside refills is an entrepreneur. But how do you translate this form of entrepreneurship into a structured business that can grow and which can become a champion in its field, “said Didier Akotey.
This specialist firmly believes in the Youth Skills and Jobs Development Project (PROCEJ) supported by the World Bank. For example, the challenge is how it can produce flour which will then be distributed tomorrow in supermarkets or to other ladies who themselves will produce donuts. As for the card seller, it is a question of how he can produce cards than other young people who can sell them in turn.
According to the expert from Africa Search, it is considered that young entrepreneurship is one of the avenues of salvation to the issue of unemployment. About 12 to 13 million young Africans enter the job market each year and Africa struggles to provide between 3 to 4 million jobs per year. “It means that there is a huge deficit in terms of employment”, underlined Didier for whom everyone is an entrepreneur: “there is no age to be an entrepreneur”, he said. indicated.
Although 90% of the African private sector is made up of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Africa can provide champions, he said. Just one piece of advice to young entrepreneurs: “Today everyone comes to Africa, there is not a large global group that does not want to come to Africa,” he said. It is therefore important that young entrepreneurs understand their environment which is in fact a global issue.
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