Africa-China New Business Era Dialogue Series Set to Explore AI’s Role in Business Growth
The Ubuntu Youth Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (YUBEC), in partnership with the Global AI Education and Workforce Transformation Policy Observatory, Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory (ACCPA) and 360 IDEAS, held a landmark virtual dialogue under its Africa-China New Business Era Dialogue Series, themed “AI for Better Business.”
The webinar, which took place on 14th March, 2026, brought together thought leaders and innovators at the intersection of artificial intelligence, international business, and entrepreneurship to explore how AI-driven tools and strategies can transform the African business landscape.
Distinguished Speakers
Leading the conversation as keynote Speaker was Paul Frimpong, Executive Director of ACCPA, a prominent voice in African business and policy circles. He was joined by two distinguished panelists: Qiqing He, Founder of the Global AI Education and Workforce Transformation Policy Observatory and a Global Shaper, and Shiyao Li, Director of International Business at Chaohui.ai, bringing a critical China-Africa technology and trade perspective to the discussion.
Beyond Government: A New Era of People-to-People and Business-to-Business Engagement
One of the most significant dimensions of this dialogue series is what it represents beyond the subject matter itself, a deliberate shift in how Africa-China relations are being built and sustained. Historically, engagement between African nations and China has been dominated by government-to-government interactions: state-backed infrastructure deals, bilateral diplomatic agreements, and sovereign loan arrangements that, while impactful, have often left ordinary citizens, entrepreneurs, and private sector players as passive observers rather than active participants.
The Africa-China New Business Era Dialogue Series challenges that tradition. By creating a platform where African entrepreneurs, SME owners, and business professionals engage directly with their Chinese counterparts in the private sector and innovation space, YUBEC and its partners are helping to forge relationships that are organic, mutual, and commercially grounded. This people-to-people and business-to-business model of engagement is widely regarded as more sustainable and equitable, as it distributes the benefits of the Africa-China relationship beyond the corridors of government and into the hands of those who drive everyday economic activity.
For young Ghanaians especially, this kind of direct access to Chinese innovators, investors, and business minds without the traditional gatekeeping of state diplomacy opens doors that were previously difficult to reach. It fosters trust, cultural understanding, and practical collaboration that can translate into real joint ventures, technology transfers, mentorship, and market access opportunities.
Why This Conversation Matters for Ghanaian Entrepreneurs and SMEs
Ghana’s small and medium-sized enterprise sector forms the backbone of the national economy, yet many businesses continue to operate without the technological tools needed to compete in an increasingly digital global marketplace. AI-powered solutions from customer service automation and data analytics to supply chain optimisation and digital marketing are rapidly reshaping how businesses grow and scale.
The Africa-China business corridor presents enormous, untapped potential, and as dialogues like this one demonstrate, the next chapter of that relationship will be written not only in state houses, but in boardrooms, co-working spaces, and virtual meeting rooms where entrepreneurs on both sides are choosing to build together. By convening experts from both sides of this partnership, YUBEC and the Global AI Education and Workforce Transformation Policy Observatory are providing young entrepreneurs and SME owners with the knowledge, networks, and cross-cultural relationships needed to thrive in a fast-evolving global economy.
For Partnership or sponsorship, leave a message, call/WhatsApp 0594532905, or email yubecghana@gmail.com
Watch the AI for Better Business Webinar