Angola is learning from Spain’s experience to strengthen its entrepreneurship and incubation ecosystem

From 5 to 9 October, a delegation from Angola’s National Institute for the Support of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (INAPEM) undertook a study visit to Barcelona and Madrid to learn about Spanish initiatives in support of entrepreneurship and MSMEs, and to make progress on the launch of Angola’s National Network of Business Incubators.

Over the course of five days, the INAPEM delegation had the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with Spanish institutions and organisations involved in entrepreneurship, innovation and business support. The programme included activities in Barcelona and Madrid, amongst them participation in BNEW, meetings with Barcelona Activa, the Directorate-General for SME Policy, ENISA and the INCYDE Foundation, as well as visits to and exchanges with business incubators.

The visit took place as part of the European Union’s Twinning project ‘Support for MSMEs and the National Network of Incubators in Angola’, led by Portugal with support from Spain through FIAP, and Germany.

Strengthening public policies to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)

The aim of the visit was to learn about the Spanish model for the design and implementation of public policies to support entrepreneurship and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the creation, management and coordination of incubator networks. The exchange has enabled INAPEM to strengthen its capacities with a view to launching Angola’s National Network of Incubators (NNI).

The initiative addresses one of the Angolan Government’s priorities: to advance economic diversification, strengthen the private sector and promote job creation, particularly amongst young people and women. In this context, MSMEs play a significant role, although they face challenges relating to access to finance, entrepreneurial skills and institutional coordination.

The project therefore aims to strengthen INAPEM so that it can design and coordinate public policies to support businesses, launch and manage the National Network of Business Incubators, and promote the creation and growth of enterprises.