The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey says she is optimistic the “Made-in-Ghana Bazaar Extravaganza” organized by her sector will help foster deeper links between government and the private sector.

The Bazaar, which is the first of its kind organized by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the Trade and Industry Ministry seeks to drive a collective effort towards achieving high patronage for locally produced goods among Ghanaians and the world at large.

Speaking at the opening, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said the Bazaar is in line with the ministry’s overall vision of realigning its objectives with Government’s “coordinated program on economic and social development” to achieve Government’s Economic Transformation Agenda.

According to the minister, it was also imperative for the various participants and exhibitors to receive feedback from the public, so products manufactured locally can be better improved to reach the internationally-accepted standards.

“In a time when the world market is putting premium on finished goods, we have no reason to only supply raw materials. We have no reason to be at the bottom of the global supply chain. More importantly, we have no reason to import that which we are capable of manufacturing locally.

This bazaar will increase awareness among the public on the need to patronize “Made-in-Ghana” goods and services, and to improve the production, processing and distribution value chain of the products in terms of raw materials availability and adequacy of operational materials.

In this regard, it will enable the exhibitors to promote their products, as well as sensitize the public about the diverse investment opportunities available in Ghana.”

Taking his turn, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen said his sector was committed to providing an enabling environment for traders by ensuring the development of modern retail infrastructure and consumer protection.

“Last week Wednesday, we witness the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement by 44 Heads of State in Rwanda.

Our President joined his colleagues in signing this very significant trading arrangement which will create a second free trade area in the world. This will soon offer Ghanaian businesses enormous opportunities to market their products to millions of customers across the continent.

A successful implementation of this free trade arrangement could increase intra-trade by as much as US$35 billion per year, or 52% by 2022. This is an opportune time for Ghana’s Economic Transformation Agenda which is being anchored on the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Industrial Transformation Plan.”

The maiden event dubbed "Made-in-Ghana Bazaar: Breaking new frontiers in economic diplomacy" was held at the premise of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had one hundred and seventy local companies showcasing their products to the public.

They include companies like GOIL, Nallem Clothings, Wear Ghana, Cocoa Processing Company Limited, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce, Tama Cosmetics among others.

There were also special exhibitions from some foreign embassies in the country like Embassy of the Republic of Angola, Russia, Benin and Sudan.