Ghana’s offer to encourage its exports in cassava, fruits as well as cosmetics, a project named “the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) has been introduced by the European Union, the funding agency and implemented by UNIDO in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The technical advice for the project Mr. Kwame Sackey at the media briefing in Accra said that key partners includes Ghana Standards Authority, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Exports Promotion Authority, National Board For Small Scale Industry and other government institutions.
The overall objective of the WACOMP he indicated is to strengthen the export competitiveness of the Ghanaian economy through enhanced value-added, low carbon, sustainable production, processing and an increased access to regional and international markets.
The project aims to improve the competitiveness of the Cassava, Fruits (mango and pineapple), Cosmetics and personal care products, by improving the quality of their products, exports and it’s integration into regional and global value chains.
Therefore reiterated to the fact that these sectors are in line with the priorities of the Ghanaian Government, and have a high potential for industrialization and job creation.
Mr. Zoltan Agai, the European Union head of cooperation in his remarks, the head of cooperation, highlighted, during the year 2018, Ghana exported goods worth €3.1billion euros to the European Market.
According to Mr Agai, Ghana has the smacks of the cordial business relationship with the oil production in West African nation into European countries.
Implementation of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), started 6 months ago and there have been unprecedented progress.
“Overall, Ghana has made significant progress over the last 20 years in terms of economic development and macroeconomic stability, he added.
European Union is one of the strongest trade partners of Ghana, since 2018, that Ghana have exported 3.1billion Euros of goods to the EU market which is 48 per cent increase from the previous year.
The sector Minister Hon. Alan Kyeremanteng was represented by the chief Director of the trade ministry Mr. Anthony Baafi. Mr. Baafi in his remarks said that the Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo led government will continue to support the programme.
“With UNIDO’s expertise I have confident that they will deliver beyond on expectations” Mr. Baafi added.
The program brought together scholars from trade industry and the agric sector.
Source: Thepressradio.com/Boadi Dickson
