The Executive Director of Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), Richenda Van Leeuwen, has emphasized the crucial role played by startups and small businesses in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) aimed at eradicating poverty and fostering economic growth.

She acknowledged that progress toward these goals had been slower than desired, particularly due to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Van Leeuwen expressed confidence that despite the setbacks, reaching the sustainable development goals is attainable. She underscored the importance of providing entrepreneurs with access to a sustainable ecosystem, encompassing incubators, accelerators, and investors.

Her remarks were made during the 2023 ANDE annual conference in Accra, which featured member-led sessions focusing on cutting-edge research, reports, and best practices to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems for small businesses, aligning with ANDE's mission.

Van Leeuwen stressed the significance of small businesses within their local communities and countries, emphasizing that sustainable development goals cannot be met without their active participation.

She highlighted ANDE's commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) not only in Ghana but across the continent and the world.

Additionally, she praised Ghana's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and noted ANDE's thriving membership of incubators, accelerators, and investors contributing to the Ghanaian ecosystem and other West African economies.

"We recognise the power of small businesses in their local communities across their countries. We can not meet sustainable development goals without small businesses sector," the Executive Director reiterated.

In conclusion, Van Leeuwen expressed enthusiasm about the conference's role in accelerating progress toward sustainable development goals and fostering economic and social support through robust small business ecosystems.

"We're just thrilled to be here in Ghana and also bringing people across the region and across the continent to talk about how can we accelerate action towards meeting Sustainable development Goals but also how small business ecosystems can drive that economic and social support that we all need to be able to thrive," she noted.