Non-traditional sector misses target

Accra - Exporters in the non-traditional sector are celebrating because their total exports for 1999 is $404 million.

The exporters are celebrating because they have a close shave with the annual target set under Vision 2020 by a little below $100 million.

However, the figure even though modest, sends a distress signal to the planners of the economy who envisage a growth that will see the non-traditional sector go up annually by $500 million between 1996 and 2020 to keep the Nation's Vision 2020 on track.

Under Vision 2020, the non-traditional sector is to rake in $12 billion in 20 years from now. The total export earnings from the non- traditional sector are programmed to reach $16 billion by the year 2020.

The Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) believes exporters of non-traditional products can perform better if a critical attention is given to the sub-sector.

FAGE says it will organize discussion with a view to developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated export development programme.

The president of the Association, Nana Yeboah Kodie Asare II, said the aim of the programme is to ensure action on issue raised by the export sector.

He urged the government to deal with the problem of lack of coherence between monetary policy and export promotion.