Exporters urged to embrace national strategy

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Mr. Gideon Quarcoo, has asked Ghanaian exporters to embrace Ghana’s new national export strategy to ensure a boost in the country's non-traditional exports.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 82nd Izmir International Fair, Mr. Quarcoo said GEPA is geared toward working with exporters to ensure that the vision of the strategy is achieved.

The new export strategy for the non-traditional export sector, spanning 2013 to 2017, aims to put Ghana on the global map as a world-class exporter of competitive products and services.

It has set a five-billion dollar target for non-traditional exports by 2017 from current export value of 2.46 billion dollars.

Under the strategy 212 districts in the country must identify at least one significant commercially viable agro-based export product to help achieve the target.

Mr. Quarcoo said the strategy also aims at generating considerable number of jobs and improving incomes as well as the standard of living and welfare of the people.

He said the strategy will help strengthen resource export development-related institutions to ensure that the export culture is imbibed nationwide to avoid dependence on traditional exports.

Mr. Quarcoo said the target for the next four years is achievable when exporters pick up their game.

As a first step, he said, GEPA will work with exporters to increase capacity in order to overcome supply constraints and enable them take advantage of regional export opportunities within the Economic Community of West African States.

In this direction, he said, a monitoring and evaluation unit will be established within GEPA to help exporters in the districts identify and get products to enhance export revenue.

In addition, GEPA will also help exporters to meet international requirements, especially in the area of phytosanitary, and provide exposure to their products through support for their participation in trade fairs.

Mr. Quarcoo said there will also be public campaigns on export of services in education, information and communication technology, multi-media and medical tourism into its NTEs portfolio.

He said GEPA’s participation in the 82nd Izmir International Trade fair (IZFAS) in Turkey provides a good opportunity for the Authority to help exporters diversify trade to the Middle East and Asia.

The GEPA is facilitating the participation of 12 Ghanaian companies in the fair, which is running from 29 August to 2 September.

The participating companies include some in pharmaceuticals, food and beverages and cosmetics.