28-10-2011
Narration: The Bolga Zonal Office under the auspices of the Ghana Export Promotion School is organizing a two-day training programme for stakeholders in the export industry to train them on export marketing, export quality management and export financing opportunities in the Upper East Region. The training which is being attended by various exporters in the region is held to encourage and build the capacity of beginners and already existing exporters on the need to trade in export commodities to enable them keep abreast of the dynamic changes in the global market. This is to enable them meet the challenges confronting the competitive export market. Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio and has filed this report.
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REPORT:
Positioned in the national export system as the coordinating pivot for the various public and private sector trade agencies involved in export trade development and facilitation, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) formerly, Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) was established under the PNDC Law in 1969 as an agency of the Ministry of Trade. The authority acts as an interface between these bodies with aim to ensuring that export trade contributes to accelerated economic growth through strategically marketing Made-in-Ghana products in the competitive global economy. The Ghana Export School on the other hand was established to address the international trade training needs of the export community, agencies supporting export trade development, business and personnel within the export product supply system. With the view to achieving the set objective, GEPA has over the years organized training sessions for stakeholders in the export business. It is also to whip the interest of individuals to recognize the export sector as holding many prospects. The Head of Training at the GEPA Export School, Mr. Samuel Brew said GEPA through its numerous training programmes has achieved an appreciable level of growth in the export sector. This, he indicated, is evident in the success chalked by beneficiaries as they can now export more than before. He said though there is tremendous growth in the sector, much has to be done in the area of non -traditional exports, which has the capacity of creating job opportunities and enhance the country’s export base. These include handicrafts, animals, fruits and vegetables as well as raw and processed food items among others. Mr Brew noted that for Ghana to compete with other developed nations there is the need to upgrade the knowledge of exporters through intensive public awareness, which he observed, was a collective responsibility of all, especially the various assemblies and charged them to join in the export crusade to make the country less dependent. To him, access to long-term financing was critical to enable the exporters build and develop niche markets for their products. This, he further noted, is key to making the sector achieved its desired impact. He later encouraged participants to explore export market opportunities to boost their businesses. The Upper East and Upper West Regional Zonal Officer of GEPA, Mrs. Maria Mensah, encouraged participants to enter into other export commodity products to ensure the growth of their businesses. She advised participants, particularly, farmers to venture into agric products that have great potential in the export market. She identified the cultivation of chili pepper as an essential export commodity and encouraged farmers to prioritize its cultivation to improve their livelihood. According to her, Exporters in the Greater Accra, Central, Western andBrong Ahafo Regions has benefited from the training adding that those in the Upper West, Ashanti and Volta Regions would be covered. An official from the CEPS, Mr. Theophilus Okine, in reaction to some of the concerns raised cautioned exporters to only engage the services of recognized or licensed custom agents to avoid delays at the check points. He said delays only occur when errors are detected in export declaration forms produced by false agents, hence the need to seek information before dealing with such agents.
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