The 4th Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition (GISE) is expected to begin on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 through to Thursday, August 19, 2021 at the Accra International Conference Centre. The Summit is co-organized by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Volta River Authority (VRA).

The year’s event will focus on industry and how Ghanaian businesses can position themselves to take full advantage of the continental free trade market which took effect on January 1 this year. The 4^th Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition is on the theme: ‘Repositioning Ghanaian Industries to leverage the AfCFTA’.

The event, which will be held in person and virtually, seeks to create an avenue for the Ghanaian private sector to dialogue with policy-makers, investors and other industry players. This will further position them on the right path to improve their businesses, whilst acquainting themselves with current trends in their respective industries.

More importantly, the summit will also be an opportunity for businesses to network and showcase their products and services to prospective clients and investors. This could serve as a platform for creating business ties that may result in internationalization of some businesses.

Focus areas of the Summit

The Summit will hold discussions on technological advancements in industry, energy requirements, infrastructure, financing and many other thought-provoking topics needed by local businesses seeking to trade within the African single market.

Meanwhile, the Summit is expected to bring the entire business community; small, medium and large-scale companies alike to contribute to the discussion on leveraging the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

It is expected that industry players will leave the conference with adequate information to enable effective participation in the single African market. The AfCFTA provides the opportunity for Africa to create the world’s largest free trade area with the potential to unite more than 1.2 billion people. It also provides a collective GDP of about $2.5 trillion and usher in a new era of development with the potential to generate a range of benefits to participating countries.

Topics to be discussed at the Summit include Ghana’s strategy for AfCFTA and implementation so far; guidelines for exporting under the AfCFTA, E-commerce under the AfCFTA, and payments /settlements /digital banking & financial solutions.

Others include Power supply, reliability and competitive pricing; the role of renewable energy in industrial competitiveness; opportunities in the Nuclear Power Project for Ghana’s Industrial Acceleration; Regulatory framework governing power supply and opportunities for industry, among others.

Notable speakers at the Summit

Keynote speakers at the Summit include Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, Special Adviser to the President of Ghana, Mr Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy.

GISE is being organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade & Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ministry of Energy, German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Nuclear Power Ghana, Bui Power Ghana and other partners.

The event will bring together companies from all 23 sectors of the AGI including Energy, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, Agribusiness, Metal/Roofing, Construction, Cosmetics, and Financial Services, among others.

Participants wishing to attend are expected to register, choosing the appropriate day on which to attend, starting tomorrow.