Integration of local businesses into the supply chain of corporates, especially those in the mining industry, is a key component for a sustainable mining operation and local development. To maximize local content in its operations at the Ahafo Mine, Newmont Ghana in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) set up a comprehensive intervention, the Ahafo Linkages Program (ALP) in 2007. The overall goal of the Ahafo Linkages Program is to create income and employment opportunities for local communities around the Ahafo Gold Project, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and to help them become sustainable businesses. To provide business opportunities beyond Newmont Ghana through facilitating networking with businesses within and outside Ghana, local businesses within the Asutifi and Tano North Districts of the Brong Ahafo Region recently participated in a Business-to-Business Encounter program organised by Newmont Ghana’s Ahafo Mine and its partners. The Business-to-Business encounter, also known as the B2B, is organized annually, as part of the mining company’s larger effort of linking up local business with foreign and national businesses. The Business-to-Business encounter also seeks to improve the capacity of businesses operating within the Ahafo Mine. George Brakoh, Newmont Ghana’s Manager, Local Supplier and Contractor Development, said the B2B encounter is a component of the Ahafo Linkages Program designed to help local businesses in the Ahafo area become better at doing business in line with international best practices. “When we tracked contracts local businesses won and executed from contacts they made at the business-to-business encounter last year alone, it was valued at US $700,000”, Mr. Brakoh said. “We have seen the genuine desire of business people in our host communities to do business with Newmont, and even extend their business reach beyond the mining area. So we through the ALP have given them the needed training through Technoserve so that they can increase revenue while creating employment, and the results are encouraging”, he added. Kwaku Appiah Dua, Chief Executive Officer of Multi-Wheels Ghana Limited – one of the local businesses – said through the first session organized last year, his company which purchases and rents heavy mining and earthmoving equipment, has obtained contracts with large businesses who now appreciate his capacity to deliver on business promises. “We tried to call certain big Accra-based companies to do business with us, but they declined. But when they came to B2B, they saw what we can do”, he said. “I met many companies last year, including South Africa’s multinational, WBHO, and I have conducted business worth about GH¢50,000 with them till date”. Evans Acheampong, Managing Director of Evachap Limited, said being at this year’s session helped him meet other local businesses with whom he’s already started doing business. “We met Abankoh Limited, a brick maker from the Tano North District, who offered to sell his bricks to us at 40 Ghana pesewas per brick for a school project at Ntotroso, instead of a quote of 60 Ghana pesewas we got from another company outside the area”, he added. George Owusu, of the IFC and Onsite Co-ordinator on the Ahafo Linkages Program, said there was an initial expectation of immediate returns on the part of some local entrepreneurs for participating in the annual event, but this is no longer the case. “Over time, many of them are beginning to see that even though contracts are a very important aspect of the business to business encounter, other benefits such as long term commercial partnership and networking is more important”, he said. Mr. Isaac Nuako, Branch Manager, EB-ACCION, a savings and loans outfit which provides microfinance for businesses within the Ahafo area commended the program, but said organizers should encourage more local businesses to participate next time. This year’s Business to Business encounter was held on Thursday May 13, 2010, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Technoserve International (Ghana) and by the Ahafo Local Businesses Association (ALBA).