Exhibitors laud Ghana Export Authority’s smooth organisation of Cote d’Ivoire fair
A cross-section of exhibitors of Made in Ghana Products underway in Cote d’Ivoire have hailed the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) for the smooth organisation of the solo exhibition saying the patronage have been encouraging.
“Unlike the past where our goods only arrive after days into the exhibition, the experience here was different and we took off on the first day with all our products in the stands,” Mr Habib Suleiman of Chocho Industries Limited told the Ghana News Agency.
Nathaniel Amoa, Liaison Officer of Type Company Limited, printing services provider, and a first time exhibitor, said the exhibition was encouraging and that he was able to make contacts with interested partners.
Mrs Gifty Efia Boatema, an exhibitor of African fabrics, said she was getting more contacts and expected to sell all the wares by the close of the exhibition on Saturday.
“I expect to get more contacts and sell everything here,” she said.
Ms Sharon Gloria Asare, also a participant exhibiting ceramics decoration, said she had made a lot of contacts and expected to leverage on them to boost her business.
Mrs Matilda Biney, who had on show colourful beads, said the initial patronage was low but expressed the hope that the remaining days would be fruitful.
“We are doing well and I expect it to get better. We have made some contacts to usher us into the Ivorian market,” Miss Elikem Agbo of Fiasi African Arts and Craft Home, said.
Mr Alex Dadzawa, Head of Marketing and Promotions GEPA, said the exhibition’s major objective was to give exposure to quality Ghanaian products and this has been achieved by the level of patronage seen over the few days.
He said the essence of the exhibition was also to enable exhibitors to strike sustainable partnerships adding that the business forum for the Ghanaian and Ivorian private sector set the tone for a win-win situation for all businesses.
Mr Charles Arthur Ntiri, Head Export Documentation, Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, appealed to the exhibitors not to concentrate on the sales but rather the contacts that they would make to achieve their long-term business objective.
Mrs Ginette Mensah, a Ghanaian Translator, who had lived in the Cote d’Ivoire for 30 years, said she had been impressed by the quality of exhibition and urged the exhibitors to focus beyond looking for partners and selling long-term investments.
The ten-day exhibition, which started last Friday, is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and the Ghana Embassy in Abidjan.
It seeks among others to promote increased and sustained export of Ghanaian products and services in La Cote d’Ivoire and encourage joint ventures between Ghanaian businesses and their Ivorian counterparts.
The exhibition is also to deepen bilateral trade relations between the two countries and to strengthen Ghana’s trade balance vis-à-vis that of La Cote d’Ivoire.
Source: GNA