Swazi Observer

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ITâ€™S TIME FOR GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK!

By Hlengiwe Ndlovu | 2018-11-11

The Kingdom of Eswatini joins the world next week to participate in the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from November 12 to 18.

This November, the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which Eswatini is a part of, celebrates 11 years of helping millions of people unleash their ideas to start and scale new businesses through GEW.

GEW host in Eswatini is Junior Achievement Eswatini together with the GEN Eswatini and partners. The official launch of the GEW Eswatini will be on GEW week and on that the full list of events that will be taking place to commemorate the week will be officially announced. Between now and November 9, you may contact JA to inform them about your events that are aligned to the week.

The global campaign began in 2008 with an emphasis on inspiring young people to make their mark and has quickly grown to become a comprehensive effort that engages entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, support organisations and others collaborating to advance economic growth and innovation in more than 170 countries around the world. Eswatini hosted her first GEW in 2009.

Roughly 35 000 events and competitions will take place during #GEW2018 – connecting nearly 10 million participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. Dozens of world leaders on every continent and a network of more than 15 000 partner organisations support the initiative every year.

GEW is a celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.

These activities, from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors—introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities. Millions who had never before considered launching their own ventures soak up advice and inspiration from the likes of Richard Branson, Michael Dell and Muhammad Yunus.

Thousands of brand new start-ups spring to life through boot camps like Start-up Weekend and competitions like Start-up Open. Hundreds of universities strengthen connections that help them commercialise research from their labs. Researchers and policymakers engage in discussions around the world to examine the underlying policies necessary to promote entrepreneurial growth. And serial entrepreneurs share their expertise through activities like EO24, run by the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation, and practical training courses like Fast-track.

Meanwhile, world leaders and local elected officials alike have embraced the campaign as they look to fuel the economic engine of high-growth start-ups in their own countries and communities. During 2013 alone, 126 heads of state and ministers from 69 countries supported Global Entrepreneurship Week by speaking at activities during the Week, filming statements of support or otherwise endorsing the national campaigns in their countries. GEW is more than just an awareness campaign. It is a platform for connection and collaboration—engaging all players along the entrepreneurship spectrum in strengthening ecosystems around the world.

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