Participants at the third MTN Business World Executive Breakfast were agreed that regional growth held the key to the growth and viability of businesses in the sub-region. The event, under the theme “Taking Your business Regional” brought together some of Ghana’s top business executives for an interactive session. The key note presentaion was delivered by Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
In his welcome address, Michael Ikpoki, Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Ghana’s largest mobile telecommunications provider and event partner, emphasised the importance of regional expansion.
He said MTN itself is an example of a successful regional stragtegy, with operations in over 20 markets in Africa and the Middle East which has made it one of the most successful and recognisable brands in Africa.
He said MTN was delighted to be part of the event and expressed the hope that events of such nature will bring business leaders together to brainstorm and that the ideas that come out will be concretised in the near future.
Mr Onyema, in his presentation, stressed that the bigger markets of the sub-region offer great potential for businesses in any of the member countries. He said Ghana, as the fasted growing economy in the world had a lot that it could share with other countries including Nigeria.
He assured the participants that the Nigerian Stock Exchange was making efforts to help address the problem of financing, which has been identified as the biggest obstacle to expansion among firms in the sub-region.
The event ended with an interactive session moderated by veteran broadcaster, David Ampofo, in which participants shared ideas and experiences about business in the sub-region, the stock markets and the future of regional integration.
The MTN Business World Executive Breakfast Series which is fast becoming one of the major events on the Ghanaian business calendar, was supported by Golden Tulip Hotel, The Telecom Channel and IPMC with MTN as the headline sponsor.