The 26th edition of the Ghana Trade Fair ended in Accra on Monday with a call on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to make exportation of goods and services a core interest.
The fair, which commenced on April 14, was held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
It was organised by the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and had the theme “Building a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Nation: Helping SMEs Rebound.”
More than 100 exhibitors, including government agencies such as the Center for Plant Medicine and the Ghana Immigration Development Authority, among others, participated in the event, which offered a unique platform for participants to interact and do business successfully.
Dr Agnes Adu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Ghana International Trade Fair Company, indicated that the global pandemic (Coronavirus) had negatively affected the country’s economy, but urged business owners not to be discouraged by the challenge.
Notwithstanding this, she urged SMEs to adjust to make their businesses grow.
“There are many things you can consider to make your businesses grow, like leveraging on technology,” she advised.
She emphasised that the fair among others offered businesses the opportunity to assess, evaluate and appreciate product quality and standards required by foreign markets.
The CEO also encouraged exporters to improve on the quality and standards of their products and services, so that they could effectively compete on foreign markets.
“This platform offers enormous opportunities to Ghanaian businesses to clinch deals to supply intermediate inputs and raw materials to foreign manufacturers – that is why it is important for manufacturers to always prioritise, so that their products can be accepted at the international level,” she added.
Dr Adu noted that fairs organised by her outfit had contributed immensely to the growth and expansion of the SMEs in the country.
She stressed that, “I believe that this fair will foster unity and innovation among the numerous participating companies, individuals and trade associations that converged to do business.”
Dr Adu expressed gratitude to sponsors of the fair for their contribution towards a successful event.
She also thanked the media for helping promote her outfit’s activities, saying the media’s support to the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre’s events could not be underrated.
RAISSA SAMBOU
