Ghana’s non-traditional export to hit $5.0 billion

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) is to increase the country’s non-traditional export from the current export value of $2.64 billion to $5.0 billion dollars by 2017.

This will enhance the Gross Domestic Product to increase the national income.

The country also aims at generating considerable number of jobs and incomes, which will be translated into improved standard of living and welfare of the people to consolidate the middle-income status.

Mr Gerald Nyarko-Mensah, Director of Export Trade of MOTI, who made this known in Tamale on Friday, said the strategy formed part of the national strategy for the non-traditional export sector from 2013 to 2017.

The occasion, which was patronised by exporters, producers and processors in the trade and export industry and politicians, was also used to launch the national export strategy and the national export development programme.

He said the country needs an investment capital of 600 million dollars to implement the National Export Strategy document, which among other things, would build the capacities of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to enable the country achieve the goal.

He said the country would no longer depend solely on the export commodities but would over the period invest in fresh and processed fish, vegetable oils, root crops, grains and legumes, natural rubber and products of the creative arts.

Mr Nyarko-Mensah said the strategy would put Ghana on the global map as a world class exporter of competitive products and services, to reduce poverty and promote sustainable environmental development and improve the balance in spatial and regional development.

He indicated that the strategy would strengthen and resource export development related institutions to ensure that the export culture is imbibed nationwide so that every district would be able to have at least one significant commercial viable agro-based export product.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry said government is committed to doubling the country’s non-traditional export sector with the priority of making the country the destination for export trade.

He said the primary constraints militating against Ghanaian exporters are their inability to add quality to their products to meet international standards.

Mr Iddrisu advised them to produce quality products to meet international market standards.

The Minister who launched the national export strategy and the national export development programme, indicated that government had started a process to equip Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund to improve agricultural growth.

He said the government would give stimulus packages to some medium scale enterprises beginning from next year.

He said when the country improves on the export trade, it would have a significant impact on the balance of trade deficit.

Alhaji Abdul Basit Fuseini, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, indicated that the region had positioned itself as a strategic destination for business, noting that the area is no longer one of conflict zones as it was perceived some years back.

He expressed the readiness of the area to support any economic venture that would contribute positively to development.

Ms Hajara Ibrahim Taimako of Taimako Farms said many crops in the region which, were hitherto not recognised as export commodities could now be regarded as such.

She listed the crops as the baobab tree, moringa products and sesame.