WASHINGTON, D.C. – Christian Ndonga Mohamed Routouang, the acting managing director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network affiliate organization in Chad, has been working to expand collaboration among the country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem leaders and connect them to their counterparts around the world. He was appointed by GEN to guide the development of GEN Chad and to support entrepreneurs and engage stakeholders in the entrepreneurial community.
“My daily ambition is to see young people economically independent,” said Routouang, “and there is an opportunity if they take the entrepreneurial road to have that freedom. Even though that road is difficult, I do believe it is not impossible to undertake. Chad is in the heart of Africa, the land of progress and future – and I would like to see chad as the African innovation hub.”
At the global level, GEN operates in 170 countries worldwide, propelling start and scale ecosystems by fostering cross-border collaboration, cutting-edge research studies, and initiatives that engage entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders across sectors and locations.
Through specific initiatives, Routouang hopes GEN Chad will build on the global mission, and put the organization on a trajectory to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and become a catalyst for growth. One key goal of GEN Chad is to be able to provide entrepreneurs with the resources they need and a supportive environment in which they can start and scale their new firms.
Initially, GEN Chad will focus on:
- Aligning national entrepreneurship support efforts to improve economies of scale and increase impact by linking entrepreneurship stakeholders,
- Cultivating an entrepreneurial culture and mindset among Chad’s citizens, especially its young people by leveraging programs like Startup Experience
- Inspiring the next generation of young entrepreneurs and help them develop their creative capacity and entrepreneurial confidence,
- Creating opportunities for dialogue about smart, evidence-based entrepreneurship policies and initiatives that impact the number of successful, growth-oriented startups and improve business competitiveness, and
- Leveraging key connections with the country’s investors, startup experts and mentors, as well as with GEN Global to facilitate access to resources and other support tools.
About the Global Entrepreneurship Network
GEN operates a platform of programs in 170 countries aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. By fostering collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurial support organizations, GEN works to fuel stronger start and scale ecosystems that create jobs, educate individuals, accelerate innovation and increase economic growth. For details on the programs and communities that make up GEN, visit genglobal.org and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.