FROM AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, KOFORIDUA
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has launched the maiden edition of the Eastern Expo 2026 in Koforidua.
The move is a major step towards unlocking the region’s economic potential through trade, tourism and investment.
The Expo, on the theme: ‘Unlocking Opportunities for Sustainable Trade, Tourism and Investment,’ is scheduled to take place from September 26 to October 3, 2026.
It is expected to position the Eastern Region as a leading destination for business and investment, in line with the government’s 24-hour economy policy.
Speaking at the launch at the Ghana Health Service Conference Hall on Tuesday, Mrs Awatey said the initiative was spearheaded by the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.
She explained that the Expo was intended to serve as a platform for promoting local economic development, attracting investment and strengthening partnerships.
According to her, the initiative goes beyond a routine exhibition and represents a strategic effort to showcase the region’s opportunities, support enterprise growth and prepare local businesses to compete on both local and international markets.
Mrs Awatey noted that trade had long been a driver of economic transformation, adding that successful economies created platforms that linked producers to markets, entrepreneurs to financiers and innovators to investors.
She said the Expo aimed to replicate the success of major international trade fairs by promoting innovation, facilitating technology transfer and creating employment opportunities.
The Minister highlighted the Eastern Region’s rich agricultural base, vibrant commercial centres and key tourist attractions such as the Boti Falls, Aburi Botanical Gardens, Kwahu Mountains and the Akosombo Dam.
She said the region’s proximity to Accra and easy access to other regions offered significant opportunities for trade, logistics, manufacturing and investment.
However, Mrs Awatey acknowledged that many micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) continued to face challenges, including limited access to finance, markets, technology and infrastructure.
She said the Expo would help address these challenges by creating opportunities for business expansion and investment.
Mrs Awatey also outlined several government projects aimed at improving the business environment in the region.
These include the Afram River Bridge, the Farmer Services Centre at Takoratwene, the proposed Food and Beverages Industrial Park, the proposed Kwahu Airstrip, as well as other infrastructure developments.
She stressed the need to move beyond rhetoric to action in driving development.
Mrs Awatey said while agriculture remained the backbone of the regional economy, there was a need to focus on value addition.
She explained that processing crops such as cocoa, oil palm, citrus, cassava and vegetables into finished products would help meet global standards and increase export potential.
The Minister used the opportunity to invite investors to partner with the region in establishing processing industries and developing the tourism sector.
She further called on financial institutions to take advantage of the Expo to identify viable businesses for support.
Mrs Awatey urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to mobilise businesses, cooperatives, artisans and farmer groups within their jurisdictions to participate in the event.
The Eastern Regional President of the House of Chiefs, Nene Sakite II, who chaired the event, described the Expo as timely, noting that the region had significant untapped investment potential.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would stimulate economic growth and create jobs, particularly for the youth.
An exhibition of selected businesses and products from across the region was held after the launch to highlight the area’s economic prospects ahead of the main Expo.
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