A number of indigenous agribusiness firms are receiving both technical and managerial training on how to gain access to new potential markets in the European Union (EU).

The training is designed to assist agro-business companies with a potential for the international market as well as companies that already sell internationally, but intend to expand their reach.

The project dubbed: Lab Innova for Africa – was set up by Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI).

The training program is aimed at increasing the technical and managerial skills of local agri-food companies to provide them with the requisite skills to better access the EU Markets as well as facilitating trade partnerships with Italian companies.

The first edition has already commenced with companies producing fruits and vegetables, specifically, mango and pineapples benefiting from the training.

A total of 20 participants have gone through a 2-tier scrutiny including one-on-one virtual interview sessions to qualify for the training sessions.

Modules for the webinars are focusing on practical sessions on how to approach and introduce business to prospective clients, including how to relate and have a meaningful dialogue with business counterparts.

Reports indicate that indigenous agribusiness firms produce good quality products which enables them gain beneficial access to foreign markets.

Last year, a business intelligence survey conducted to assess the level of competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector indicates that over 80 percent indigenous agribusiness export firms are internationally certified as against 54 percent for non-exporters.

The survey was conducted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with GEPA and AGI – representing exporters and manufacturers respectively as well as the Ghana Investments Promotion Centre (GIPC).

Speaking during the virtual launch of the training, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare expressed her excitement about the collaboration offered by Lab Innova and the Italian Trade Agency in building the capacity of Ghana’s agribusiness industry.

“GEPA’s mandate aligns with developing and promoting Non-Traditional Exports and the initiative advances President Nana Akuffo Addo’s industrialization agenda. It also serves the dual purpose of building the capacity of Ghanaian companies by tapping into best practices from the Italian Trade Agency”, she noted.

AGI encouraged participants to make the best of the opportunity offered by the best practice case studies and sessions being offered.

Lab Innova for Africa is an educational training program for the agri-food sector in Africa. Other African countries that have benefitted from the project include Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda.