GEPC Launches 19th Exporters Awards

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 years 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 20006 to $1.165 billion, contributing 27 per cent to merchandise export” during the year under review.
Other factors he 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 noted that 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 for their support and valued contributions.
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said Ghana without export would come to a stand still and to prevent that his ministry had been trying to support exporter’s by making accessible to them market information on standards and packaging to help them market their products efficiently.
He noted that the Ministry aside the above strategies mentioned had been undertaking other interventions to help exporter’s facilitate their businesses.
Mr Agyeman-Manu however indicated that Ghana had begun to make significant impact in Africa and Ghanaian exporter’s needed to be more innovative to also ensure significant growth in their business.
“All of a sudden Ghana is becoming attractive in the world and that is an indication of that growth” he stated adding that “probably Ghana is on its way to become the first African tiger as had been exhibited by China and India in Asia”.
The main sponsors of the awards would contribute a minimum of GH¢10,000 and above to benefit from all announcement including the event banner, a sponsorship plaque of recognition, speaking role at the awards event, media mention, advert in the exporter magazine, the programme brochure and MC mention and other publicity’s.
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’s.