19th export achievement launched

THE Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) has launched the 19th National Awards for Export Achievement, 2007, with a call on prospective sponsors to increase their support to make this year’s event a success.
According to the Executive Secretary of GEPC, Mr Edward Collins Boateng, the awards scheme, which was instituted in 1989, had contributed immensely to the growth and development of the trade industry in Ghana.
He said “Ghana’s economy performed creditably well in 2007. Total merchandise export for the year increased by 12 per cent from $3.73 billion in 2006 to $4.19 billion. Total non-traditional export grew from $893 million in 2006 to $1.2 billion, contributing 27 per cent to merchandise export” during the year under review.
Other factors Mr Boateng attributed to the growth of the industry included improved performance by manufacturers, the aggressiveness of Ghanaian exporters, support from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) and product diversification.
He said the award scheme offered stakeholders and exporters an opportunity to market their products to a larger market, adding that without their support, the billion mark would not have been achieved, and congratulated them on their support and valued contributions.
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said Ghana, without export, would come to a standstill, and to prevent that, his ministry would continue to support exporters by making accessible to them market information on standards and packaging to market their products efficiently.
Mr Agyeman-Manu, however, indicated that Ghana had begun to make significant impact in Africa, and Ghanaian exporters needed to be more innovative in order to grow their business.
The main sponsors of the awards would contribute a minimum of GH¢10,000 and above to benefit from all announcements, including the event banner, a sponsorship plaque of recognition, speaking role at the awards event, media mention, advert in the exporter magazine, and the programme brochure.
The platinum, gold, and silver sponsors would contribute GH¢7,500, GH¢5,000 and GH¢3,000 respectively to benefit from some of the above-mentioned publicity.