Guinea: Creative entrepreneurs
The ‘Guinée Créative’ project was launched in 2021. It aims to support the emergence of the creative economy in Guinea by building capacity and creating jobs and businesses in the fashion, design and audiovisual industry.
The project is funded by the European Union. It targets the Conakry-Kindia-Mamou axis, where the project has supported more than 190 entrepreneurs, helped formalise 50 businesses and created 110 jobs. The sales of the companies supported increased by an average of 70%.
From local to pop-up
The project has teamed up with Guinea’s National Crafts Promotion Office (ONPA) to launch the first official label for Léppi, Guinea’s emblematic fabric. The label has been registered with the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) and awaits approval. It guarantees the quality and authenticity of Léppi. It stimulates local production, opening up opportunities for craftspeople, and positions Léppi as a quality craft product on the international stage. 50 producers have already been included in the labelling process, 76% of whom have met the requirements.
The project has created the Guinée Créative workspace, a showcase for Guinean talent. In three months, the platform welcomed more than 10,000 visitors, boosted the skills of 120 entrepreneurs and showcased the work of 31 fashion designers through a pop-up store. The workspace now operates independently, under private management.
On the road to entrepreneurship
Guinée Créative is one of five Enabel projects in Guinea dedicated to entrepreneurship. The European funding was integrated into the wider Entreprena project, dedicated to inclusive and sustainable growth, and funded by Belgium. With 8,000 entrepreneurs supported, this project has improved the performance of Guinean micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as access to financial services, and created an environment conducive to inclusive economic development. These efforts will continue under the Guinea-Belgium cooperation programme until 2027.
Guinea’s Léppi
Léppi originally comes from the Middle Guinea region. Léppi is a fabric that is emblematic of Guinean identity. It is the result of ancestral know-how. It shows up in a wide range of garments, accessories and decorative objects and is distinguished by its geometric patterns – often blue, naturally dyed by means of local plants. Léppi is a major source of income for Guinean craftspeople, who sell it on local and international markets.
