Introduction
The MIT Sloan School of Management offers Special Seminars in International Management in the spring semester. Each Seminar includes a half-semester series of classes and a 10-day international trip during spring break. The class sessions provide students with a foundation in the economic, political, and cultural context of business in the countries and regions visited. The student-organized trips offer an opportunity to visit public and private-sector organizations in various regions of the world and to obtain first-hand exposure to international management issues.
The 2008 trip to Ghana is unique. Ghana offers a window into the challenges and promise of sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective is to provide MIT Sloan students with a first-hand understanding of the economic, social, cultural, and political landscape of Ghana.
Goals
- Have a deep understanding of the business climate of Ghana and a general idea of business opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa
- Begin to understand Ghanaian culture
- Begin to see Africa as a collection of economies, political relationships, and opportunities, some promising, others less so
- Return from the trip committed to accelerating the MIT Sloan-Ghana partnership
Why Ghana?
Ghana's real GDP growth was 6% in 2006, making it comparable to other countries considered prime investing opportunities. Privatization of state-owned enterprises is occurring on a large-scale, with over 300 of about 350 para-statal enterprises sold to private owners. The government is spearheading a structural adjustment program that includes the elimination of exchange rate controls and the lifting of virtually all restrictions on imports. Simultaneously, the establishment of an interbank foreign exchange market has greatly expanded access to foreign exchange. Ghana is poised for real gains. Yet, like China in the 80's, Ghana has been mostly ignored by business schools.
Places We'll Visit
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