The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has inaugurated a three-day trade show in Accra, showcasing processed fruits, cassava, cosmetics, and personal care products.
The event, named ‘The GEPA-WACOMP End-of-Year Trade Show,' commenced on Thursday at the National Theatre's forecourt and will conclude on Saturday, December 16.
The exhibition, organized under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the West Africa Competitive Programme (WACOMP), is funded by the European Union (EU).
On display are cassava, processed fruits such as mangoes and pineapples, as well as cosmetics and products in the personal care value chain.
The trade show aims to enhance the visibility of these products to diplomatic missions, hotels, importers, exporters, retailers, and the general public with the goal of improving their export performance to the European Union market.
Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, the Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, conveyed in her opening speech, “The beauty of what we see here today is as a result of years of hard work and collaborative efforts between the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and UNIDO-WACOMP, with funding support from the European Union.”
She commended UNIDO-WACOMP for partnering with GEPA to exhibit the products, supported under the West Africa Competitive Programme, to enhance their visibility, boost exports, and integrate them into regional and global value chains.
Dr. Asare highlighted the significance of the exhibition in promoting intra-regional trade, especially in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“For us at GEPA, we are committed to driving the continuous development of Made-in-Ghana products and services and the competitiveness of our SMEs,” she stated, assuring exhibitors and clients of GEPA's unwavering dedication to promoting their products both locally and internationally.
Mr. Joseph Yeboah, Project Coordinator and Networks Expert for Cassava Value Chain, WACOMP, emphasized the progress made in packaging and branding among Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) through the application of UNIDO's 5Cs – Compete, Correct, Conform, Conduct, and Coordinate.
Madam Margo Pitora, representing the EU Ambassador to Ghana, reiterated the Union's unwavering support for GEPA in improving the standards of products exported to European markets.