DURBAN INNOVATORS SHINE AT GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP FESTIVAL
- BEE NEWS
- Nov 25
- 2 min read
SA News | 24 November 2025
Durban’s innovators were among the top achievers at the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF) held in Accra, Ghana, from 21–23 November 2025.
The festival is recognised as Africa’s largest platform for enterprise and innovation.
Hosted during Global Entrepreneurship Week, this year’s event brought together thought leaders, investors, innovators, and entrepreneurs from various sectors across the world, under the theme: “AI-Powered Entrepreneur: Creating a Sustainable Planet.”
This year’s edition attracted over 10 000 participants from more than 70 countries and reached millions through digital platforms.
Over 100 exhibitors showcased their innovations, including 10 small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) from Durban, whose participation was supported by eThekwini Municipality and Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal.
The support resulted in increased visibility for Durban’s entrepreneurs, new market access, and strong business leads.
For many of the exhibitors, GEF 2025 was a breakthrough moment.
Nolwazi Thusi, founder of Green Everything Recycling, which transforms recyclables into functional furniture and art, secured international sales during the festival.
She described the event as “a valuable platform to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs committed to impactful change.”
Fashion entrepreneur Lusanda Linqe, founder of Mangala Kreationz, highlighted the value of networking and knowledge exchange sessions.
“My highlight was the successful sales and new supplier relationships, including access to distinctive Ghanaian fabrics that will further strengthen my brand,” Linqe said.
Leading the Durban delegation, eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele welcomed the positive feedback and achievements of participating SMMEs.
He commended the entrepreneurs for leveraging the global platform effectively and “demonstrating the impact of exposure, collaboration and international engagement.”
Mbhele also delivered a keynote address outlining the city’s innovation and business development initiatives, reaffirming that creating global opportunities for local entrepreneurs remains a key priority.
He commended GEF for its professionalism, scale and alignment with Africa’s development goals, and expressed Durban’s interest in hosting a future edition of the festival, to enhance African linkages and advance the continent’s collective economic growth.
He further emphasised the need for strengthened African collaboration to support and grow the SMME sector.
“The diaspora plays a critical role in opening new markets, expanding resources and building networks that drive inclusion and economic resilience,” Mbhele said.
“The diaspora plays a critical role in opening new markets, expanding resources and building networks that drive inclusion and economic resilience,” Mbhele said.
Its strong focus on artificial intelligence highlighted the technological shifts reshaping entrepreneurship across the continent.
The programme featured exhibitions, empowerment workshops, keynote presentations, robotics demonstrations, a trade expo, the Global Leadership Forum and creative showcases, including a fashion runway featuring local designers.
As the Durban delegation returns home, they do so armed with new partnerships, market leads and renewed inspiration, reinforcing their readiness to grow within an increasingly interconnected global economy.
‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’.