Jun 20- 2023
GHANA EXPO AND LAUNCH OF GHANA TRADE HOUSE IN KENYA
Following a media announcement at the Ghana High Commission, Nairobi in February 2023, of an upcoming Ghana Expo and launch of Ghana Trade House, the Ghana National Coordination Office of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), launched the Ghana Trade House, located at the Sameer Business Park along Mombasa Road in collaboration with the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) on Tuesday, 23rd May, 2023 during the maiden Ghana Expo at Sarit Centre, Nairobi. The Expo and business forum was held from 23rd to 27th May, 2023 with both Ghanaian exhibitors and Kenyan businesses participating in the event.
Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in charge of International Trade, Hon. Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, CEO of GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, the Coordinator of the Ghana AfCFTA National Coordination Office, Dr. Fareed Arthur, and other officials from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ghana Free Zones Authority and the Ministry of Trade and Industry participated in the programme.
Hon. Nana Ama Dokuah Asiamah Adjei, informed participants that the Government of Ghana places a high premium on trade within Africa and is determined to do all it takes to boost its exports to African countries.
H.E Damptey Bediako Asare, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Kenya, in his remarks stated that purpose of the Trade House is to serve as a one-stop-shop outlet in East Africa for Made-in-Ghana products. He said that besides advancing bilateral trade relations and investment opportunities between the two countries, the facility will also serve as a product-display-centre in promoting of products from Ghana to businesses and the general public of Kenya and beyond.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, the launch of the Ghana Trade House in Kenya is an initiative that aligns with GEPA’s mission to promote Ghanaian exports and enhance trade relationships within the continent. It is also expected to help deliver on GEPA’s mandate of extending Ghana’s footprint as a country across the continent to enhance closer trade ties within the continent. She noted that the launch is indicative of growing economic cooperation between Ghana and countries within the East Africa region.
“This initiative signifies a giant step toward regional integration within Africa. It puts actions behind our words and highlights the commitment to promoting intra-African trade and cooperation”, said Dr. Asare. She enjoined other countries on the continent to foster similar initiatives in order to create a network of Trade Houses that facilitate trade and economic integration at the regional level.
The Ghana Trade House is expected to stock premium Ghanaian products for the East African market, diversify the options available, stimulate trade activities, create avenues for business, and generate employment opportunities. It is also to provide market intelligence, storage and warehousing facility, as well as be a hub for networking between Ghanaian and Kenyan business representatives.
Kenya’s Acting Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Mr. Oliver Konje, urged Ghanaian and Kenyan businesses to explore opportunities in both markets by promoting export products that have comparative advantages. He encouraged Ghanaian chocolatiers to look into the Kenyan market while Kenyan tea companies do the same in Ghana.
Madam Floice Alukabana, CEO of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), urged African nations to commit themselves to promoting trade liberalisation through market linkages, adding that KEPROBA will continue to collaborate with GEPA to boost trade between Kenya and Ghana.
The Business forum and exhibition also aimed to facilitate trade and investment opportunities between Ghana and Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which both countries were among the first to ratify.
Seventy (70) Ghanaian and twenty (20) Kenyan enterprises participated in the exhibitions, business forums, seminars, and matchmaking sessions that covered various sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, textile, cosmetics, services, and culture with both countries agreeing on the following:
To embrace the power of unity and forge new partnerships to highlight their nations’ best and create vibrant economies
To embrace the principle of free trade and transformation, recognizing that the success of the AfCFTA depends on their commitment and cooperation
Collaborate on various sectors that offer significant opportunities for mutual benefits, such as leather, pharmaceutical, dairy, food processing, textile, cosmetics, financial services, and culture
Establish destination markets for their products, services, value addition and quality standards that would enhance their competitiveness and
Exchange information and best practices on digitization, innovation, export promotion, and culture through associations and platforms such as the GTH.
Mr. Ronald Meru, Economic Diplomacy Chair and Mr. Kassim Were, Head of Trade Development at KNCCI committed to; identifying potential partners or customers in Ghana or other African countries that are interested in their products or services and establishing long-term relationships with them, conducting market research and analysis on the demand, preferences, regulations, and challenges of exporting to Ghana or other African countries, and tailor their products or services accordingly and seek support from relevant government agencies or institutions such as KEPROBA or AfCFTA Secretariat on accessing market information, trade facilitation, financing options, or dispute resolution mechanisms.
Other key partners of the programme are the World Bank, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbei (GIZ), UNDP and Ghana Export and Import Bank.
Click here for some photo highlights of the event.