An exhibition to showcase made-in-Ghana products and expose local businesses and Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) to the export market was held in Accra on Saturday.
The two-day fair, dubbed “This is Ghana” and held at the Efua Sutherland Park, was organised by ChannelOne TV and Citi 97.3FM on the theme “Showcasing Ghana’s Export Potential.”
The exhibition, sponsored by MTN Ghana; Ecobank Ghana; Syde Hassle; Built Financial Technologies; Ghana Exim Bank; eVivi Rice; Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA); Twellium Industrial Company; and the Ghana Enterprises Agency, attracted more than 160 SMEs.
Products on display included beverages, food products, shoes, garments and textiles, furniture, bags, cosmetics, local rice, and other value-added goods.
Speaking at the programme, the General Manager of ChannelOne TV and Citi 97.3FM, Bernard Avle, explained that the initiative was born out of the media house’s commitment to national development.
“Economic development is not just about policies; it is also about markets,” he said. “As a leading media house, we felt that beyond discussing issues on air, we must bring businesses and consumers together. Ghana is a marketplace, and our role is to provide visibility for SMEs to grow, access orders, and prepare for the export market.”
He noted that many businesses had started small but grown into exporters through such platforms.
“We have companies that began with two or three workers but are now exporting. That is the impact of visibility. Our job is to keep giving light to these companies so that people know and patronise them,” he said.
Tracing the fair’s history, Mr Avle said “This is Ghana” started in 2019 to provide SMEs, which account for about 90 per cent of businesses in Ghana, with the exposure they lacked.
“Most of them are producing what Ghana should look like, but they do not have the platform to market or push their products. This exhibition fills that gap,” he added.
Mr Avle said since its inception, “This is Ghana” had become one of the country’s most important exhibitions, serving as a launchpad for businesses transitioning from local to international markets.
The Head of Industrial Arts and Crafts at GEPA, Ms Nelly Joanna Spio-Abaidoo, said the Authority was supporting exhibitors to improve their products for the international market.
“We have experts who train businesses to make their products export-ready. And we are not only looking at goods, but services as well, because Ghana has world-class service providers who can also compete globally,” she said.
Mrs Spio-Abaidoo encouraged entrepreneurs and potential investors to engage at the fair.
“Your next partner, investor or marketing executive could be here. This platform is about creating networks that can transform businesses,” she added.
Some exhibitors expressed appreciation to the organisers for providing the platform to showcase their products, secure new clients, and network with potential partners.
They called for more of such exhibitions to give greater visibility to SMEs and promote made-in- Ghana goods.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
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