Malawi to commemorate global entrepreneurship week

Malawi is set to host this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW2020) from November 16 to 22 at The Maker Space in Blantyre City’s Mpingwe area under the auspices of a local technology company MicroMek, which has partnered with the Global Entrepreneurs Network (GEN).

According to Micromek founder Dumisani Kaliati, GEW is a celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

Kaliati explained that the one-week long event is held annually across the globe to inspire people through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential.

He said; “This will be for the first time for Malawi to host such an activity which creates space for networking and connecting participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors.”

Kaliati further explained that the event, with special focus on local youth led startups and innovations, will enable entrepreneurs to learn from each other and foster collaboration within themselves.

The MicroMek founder lamented that there is slow adoption of locally developed solutions, a situation that stifles strategic partnerships as it only serves to promote foreign innovators and investors.

“For Malawi to realize our local version of Silicon Valley there is need for a deliberate plan of action from both the government sector and private sector to unlock opportunities for local youths, in strategic areas of financing, partnerships and mentorship,” Kaliati told Mining and Trade Review.  

He said that MicroMek and GEW Malawi intend to collaborate with well-established social and private organizations to continue supporting Global Entrepreneurship Week Malawi beyond the 2020 campaign.

As part of commemorations local entrepreneurs will also be given an opportunity to take part in the #IAmAnEntrepreneur  40 seconds video challenge and the winner will receive a free trip to the next Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March 2021. 

“Local entrepreneurs can upload their video stating their name and when they realized that they are entrepreneurs, by using this link: https://record.shoutout.social/gen/gew2020iaae. Local entrepreneurs across the country are urged to participate in the #GEW2020 by sharing their work and innovations.”