ECOWAS to boost intra-regional trade

Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - About 50 Ghanaian Exporters and Manufacturers on Friday began a training programme on the usage of Trade Opportunity Management System Database (SIGOA-TOPS) aimed at facilitating intra-regional business opportunities.

The SIGOA-TOPS is an information system designed under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the development and promotion of trade between the countries of the community.

The training programme, which is under the auspices of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) would enable participants to develop skills to use the internet version of SIGOA-TOPS for a more direct and quick access to the facilities.

It also aims at giving impetus to the trade liberalization scheme evolved by ECOWAS to allow the free movement of goods and services among member countries as a means of boosting Intra-West African Trade. The system, being managed by the ECOWAS Community Computer Centre, would make available information on business opportunities to economic operators for the development of their activities.

It would also help to establish business relations, marketing of goods and services by cross matching of offers and demands. Mr Salathiel Doe Amegavie, Chief Executive of GNCCI, in an interview with Ghana News Agency after introducing participants to the system expressed concern about the 11 per cent intra-trading links within the Sub-Region.

He said SIGOA-TOPS systems would, therefore, introduce new bilingual marketing links and speed up the volume of trade internationally.

Mr Amegavie said exporters and manufacturers in Kumasi and Takoradi would bee linked up before the end of the year.