The Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI) has created a digital platform where businesses can access a broad network of potential traders in Ghana, Africa and across the globe.
The portal, chambersmarket.com also comes with an app that supports both android and IOS systems. This application enables its users to own a virtual store, operate and promote business at their convenience, shed off risks in managing and owning a physical business structure.
Mr. Vincent Annan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of STCCI pointed out that STCCI is a registered independent business association affiliated to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)-Ghana, which aims at serving and promoting the commercial and industrial interests of small, medium and large companies in Ghana.
According to the CEO, “in the last 15 years, we have seen a tremendous growth of digital platforms and their influence on our lives, as consumers now are influenced by things they see on social media”.
Mr. Vincent Annan
The CEO defined the digital economy as one collective term for all economic transactions that occur on the internet, and an economy that focuses solely on digital technologies. Mr. Annan further called on members of the business community to take advantage of the portal to grow their businesses.
Furthermore, Mr. Nii Kpani Addy, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) also indicated that the portal would enable patrons to access comprehensive and enhanced sales and promotional services, learn of new customer preferences for goods and services, receive customer feedback, and boost business sales and profit margins.
The Deputy CEO further noted that businesses that adapted and adopted the internet and embraced online business in the last decade have flourished since they don’t just do direct selling and buying but also distribution and marketing of their products. Business Trading has become easier due to the digital economy, he disclosed.
Mr. Addy, therefore, urged all business owners in the Western Region and in the country at large to welcome the digital economy, and use it as an opportunity to reach out to the global community by getting their businesses online to serve the larger community.
Meanwhile, during STCCI first-quarter survey last year, the performance of businesses was established. The Deputy CEO at the launch of the digital report on the state of business in the Western Region last year revealed that as a result of the survey, availability, and source of financing was identified as one of the challenges faced by businesses in the region,
“We realized how businesses have been affected and in fact, reduction in local demand of commodities this topped the usual hew and cry availability and sources of financing”.
Mr. Nii Kpani Addy
The Deputy CEO further disclosed that the Chamber with constant support from the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and Seque, will continue to organise such quarterly research on business in the region to ascertain their challenges and provide data for planning and policymaking and to help make informed decisions.
The Deputy CEO also advised that all companies should try to fulfil the service expectations of their digitally empowered customers and offer more experiences at a great cost. He further called on the companies to become more innovative to respond to the highly competitive environment.
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