ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORKING - INDUSTRIAL ESTATES IN GHANA

This article looks at networking activities among entrepreneurs of sma ll-scale enterprises in an industrial district in Ghana. The purpose o f the study is to identify the type of inter-firm interaction that tak es place, and to determine the effect it has on the productive capabil ities of the firms and the industrialization process. The study is set in the context of research on industrial districts and inter-firm net works which have been associated with technological change and competi tive success for firms in advanced economies. While some believe that there may be little about industrial districts in places such as Third Italy or Silicon Valley which can be transferred to developing countr ies, the fact remains that small firms everywhere are more similar tha n different Therefore, an understanding of the process of networking i n Ghana may provide insights on the nature of these activities and the ir effectiveness in contributing to enterprise growth and the thickeni ng of the industrial base in developing economies.