Private agricultural investments approved by the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA) during the first ten months of 2023 fell by 20.9% compared with the same period in 2022. They stood at TND 350.3 million, according to the APIA statistics release published on Saturday. Compared with the 2016-2020 development plan, approved investments were down by 20.9%, generating 2,270 permanent jobs. APIA also reported a 10.7% increase in approved investments in the fisheries sector, reaching TND 42.8 MD. Seven investment operations with foreign participation were approved worth TND 12.5 million, compared with two operations worth TND 4.5 million during the same period in 2022. Investments approved for young people amounted to TND 37.8 million compared with TND 47.1 million. Those approved for women rose from TND 21.7 million in 2022 to TND 26.1 million. Approved investments received subsidies worth TND 103.3 million, accounting for 29.5% of the approved investment volume. Subsidies for the acquisition of agricultural equipment amounted to TND 40.6 million, accounting for 39.3% of total approved subsidies. The self-financing rate dropped to 49.7%. Approved investments in photovoltaic equipment rose to TND 10 million, benefiting from subsidies of TND 4.9 million. Investments in organic farming reached TND 9.1 million, with subsidies of TND 2.9 million. Those approved in the olive tree plantation components amounted to TND 5.9 million, with subsidies of TND 2.8 million. Approved investments in water-saving components stood at TND 14.5 million, with subsidies of about TND 7.2 million. Benefit granting committees approved 30 land loans worth TND 4.7 million. These loans will help integrate 303 hectares of land into the economic cycle. Reported investments down 1.3 Agricultural investments totalled TND 1,104.1 million, down 1.3% during the first ten months of 2023. Compared with the 2016-2020 development plan, reported investments fell by 2.1%. Reported investments in the primary processing sector rose t o TND 122.6 million, up from TND 56 million. Those reported online stood at TND 548.4 million, accounting for 49.7% of the overall reported volume. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse The Ketu South office of Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), formerly National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI), has organised a workshop to upgrade the skills of some 40 hairdressers in the Municipality. The two-day workshop, which featured Madam Mabel Somi of Second Image, Aflao, taught the participants, who are a group of clients of the Agency, the various types of dreadlocks and how to make them. Madam Rabiatu Ibrahim, the Ketu South Officer, GEA, speaking to Ghana News Agency, said the workshop formed part of plans drawn for their clients for 2023, with the aim to support their business growth. She explained that the selection of the 40 for the workshop was based on data available on them which informed the training to give them maximum impact. Madam Ibrahim underscored the need for small businesses and artisans to be registered with the Agency, saying there were countless advantages of becoming a client of GEA, which included tailored business development services and expert guidance towards th e growth of their respective enterprises. She called on those in the small-scale sector, including dressmakers and entrepreneurs in Ketu South to call on her office to become clients and embrace the limitless opportunities in store for them. A participant who identified herself only as Francisca of Franca's Allure, Aflao described the workshop as 'very powerful' because it helped them to differentiate the various types of hair braids popularly known as 'rasta.' 'We used to call every braid, rasta. But from this workshop, we know the distinctions. For dreadlocks, for example, we learnt of different types including sister's lock, locking and lock extension and how to make these different types,' he said. Another participant, who gave her name as Rachel of El Beraka Hair Salon, Tokor, said she was so happy with the opportunity and noted that with her upgraded skills in dreadlocks, she would provide a more satisfying service to her clients to attract more clients to her shop. Source: Ghana News Agency