Hundreds of local entrepreneurs cash in at GEPA trade show

Hundreds of local entrepreneurs have seized the opportunity to market their products at a three-day end-of-year trade show organized by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) in collaboration with the West Africa Competitive Programme (WACOMP), in Accra to promote Ghanaian products.

The exhibition covers a range of products from processed fruits such as mango and pineapple, food products from cassava, cosmetics products, and personal care value.

The exhibition dubbed “The GEPA-WACOMP End of Year Trade Show,” is aimed at helping to stimulate the demand for local products while connecting manufacturers to new markets as it promotes Made-in-Ghana goods and services this festivity season.

The event which commenced on Thursday 14^th December, 2023, at the National Theatre, Accra has attracted overwhelming participation with a colourful display of commodities.

In her opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Dr Afua Asabea Asare, emphasised that the main objective of the exhibition is to promote the products of the three value chains, which were supported under the WACOMP initiative.

She said this will enhance their visibility to customers, including diplomatic missions, hotels, importers, exporters, retailers, aggregators, and the general public.

“The initiative aims to improve the growth and performance of processed fruits (mango and pineapple), cassava, and cosmetics and personal care items by raising the calibre of the goods produced by the three value chains, increasing their exports, and integrating them into regional and global value chains,” she said.

This initiative is particularly important because the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is now in full force has presented every SME in Africa a great opportunity to take advantage of the huge market and export to every country on the African continent.

Dr. Asabea Asare mentioned that GEPA has established a Ghana Trade House in Kenya to promote Ghanaian products and the facility is in active operation.

The exhibition is expected to attract more than 50,000 patrons during the three-day show.

Cluster and Networks Expert for Cassava Value Chain, WACOMP, Joseph Yeboah said partners include the GEPA, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the European Union Cooperation (EU), and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

Mr. Yeboah indicated the importance of the joint force of the above organizations which proffered solutions to the many challenges that hindered the competitiveness of the three value chains.

He said that UNIDO, WACOMP has supported 26,722 MSMEs in the cosmetic and personal care value chain to enhance their capacity to meet and implement international standards.

Whilst some 4,000 fruit producers and processors also received capacity building to enhance their capacities to implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Again, over 10,195 cassava entrepreneurs’ capacities have been enhanced in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

“We have also trained 500 quality personnel from various institutions under the WACOMP program to support quality infrastructure, out of which we have 20 IRCA-certified experts,” Mr. Yeboah opined.

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