The Central Region has been spotlighted as a hub of untapped opportunities in agriculture, tourism, industry and enterprise, with stakeholders calling for concerted efforts to convert these potentials into tangible jobs, investments and export earnings.
This was the focus of the opening ceremony of the Central Region Trade Expo, which brought together government officials, business leaders, exhibitors, buyers and development partners to showcase the economic potential of the region and create linkages for growth.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, highlighted the diverse opportunities that the Central Region offers for economic transformation.
She said the region is endowed with fertile agricultural lands, a rich tourism heritage, a vibrant entrepreneurial class and growing industrial potential that must be harnessed for inclusive development.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare noted that the challenge for the region and the country as a whole is not the lack of opportunities, but the need to turn those opportunities into concrete outcomes including job creation, increased investment, enhanced local production and expanded export capacity.
She explained that government’s key economic policies are designed to support this transformation. According to her, the 24-Hour Economy policy will provide the framework for businesses to be more productive, efficient and competitive by maximizing the use of infrastructure, labour and resources around the clock.
She added that the Export Ghana Agenda is aimed at repositioning Ghanaian products for international markets through value addition, quality improvement and market access, while the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents an unprecedented opportunity for Ghanaian businesses to reach over 1.4 billion consumers across the continent.
“Central Region has what it takes to lead in agriculture, tourism, industry and enterprise. Our task is to turn these opportunities into jobs, investment, local production and export opportunities. With the 24-Hour Economy, Export Ghana agenda and AfCFTA, we are giving businesses the tools to reach wider markets and grow beyond our borders.’’
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare
Minister Urges Exhibitors to Use Expo to Scale Up Businesses
The Minister encouraged exhibitors and entrepreneurs in the region to take advantage of the Expo to showcase their products, learn from each other, and build networks that can help them scale up.
She assured the business community of government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for private sector growth through policy reforms, infrastructure development and targeted support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
For his part, the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, urged stakeholders to look beyond the exhibition itself and focus on the real value and benefits that businesses can derive from participating in the Expo.
He said expos of this nature should not be seen merely as display events, but as strategic platforms for business education, networking, partnership building and market expansion.
Hon. Eduamoah called for more deliberate efforts to provide businesses in the region with access to business education, technical support and affordable finance. He observed that many SMEs in the region have great products and ideas but lack the technical know-how, business management skills and financial resources to grow and compete.
He emphasized the need for collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to provide the needed support systems that will enable local businesses to thrive.
The Regional Minister also encouraged businesses and consumers to prioritize Made-in-Ghana products as a way of promoting local industry, creating jobs and conserving foreign exchange.
“Let us all commit to sourcing and promoting more Made-in-Ghana products. When we buy Made-in-Ghana, we create jobs for our people, we support our industries and we build a stronger economy for the region and for Ghana.”
Hon.Ofosu-Adjare
Expo to Unlock New Opportunities for Central Region Businesses
He expressed optimism that the Expo would open new doors for businesses in the Central Region and contribute to the region’s economic transformation agenda. Representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Mr. Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, the Deputy CEO,
Mr. Ambrose Edwin Nsarko, reaffirmed GEPA’s commitment to supporting businesses in the Central Region to become export-ready and competitive on the international market.
He said GEPA is working to build the capacity of local businesses to meet international quality standards, packaging requirements and market expectations to enable them connect with international buyers.
He noted that the Central Region has a wide range of products with strong export potential including processed foods, textiles, crafts, cosmetics and agricultural produce, and that GEPA is ready to provide the necessary technical assistance and market linkages to help these products reach global markets.
He encouraged exhibitors to use the Expo as a learning and networking platform to build partnerships, improve their products and explore opportunities within the AfCFTA and other international markets.
“GEPA is here to support you. We want to see businesses from the Central Region become export-ready and connect with buyers beyond Ghana. Use this Expo to build partnerships, improve your products and take advantage of the AfCFTA and other markets.”
Hon.Ofosu-Adjare
The Central Region Trade Expo, which is expected to run throughout the week, has brought together hundreds of businesses, buyers, investors and other stakeholders from across the region and beyond.
The event features product exhibitions, business-to-business meetings, seminars and panel discussions on topics such as access to finance, export readiness, value addition, and leveraging technology for business growth.
Organizers say the Expo is designed to create space for meaningful conversations that can lead to new opportunities for businesses and contribute to the economic development of the Central Region.
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