The International Finance Corporation, IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has signed a linkage cooperation agreement with Newmont Ghana Gold Limited to collaborate in supporting small and medium enterprises, SMEs , in the Brong Ahafo region. The SME linkages programme is part of the IFC's work with Newmont Ghana Gold on the Ahafo Mine. In July, last year IFC signed a loan of US$125m with the mine to support Ghana"s mining sector, in raising environmental standards and ensureing that local communities benefit from the project. The IFC Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Tierry Tandoh said the IFC is pleased to collaborate with Newmont in this joint endeavour to bring direct benefits to the local communities. He said the mine is generating demand for a wide variety of goods and services and the linkages programme will focus on creating opportunities for local businesses to respond to it. The three-year linkages programme aims at supporting the development of local businesses and to develop potential suppliers and providers of goods and services to the mine. In addition, it will place special emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs and incorporate HIV/AIDS into its training activities through the IFC Gender Entrepreneurship Markets and the IFC against AIDS programme. GBC