South African Airways Expose Ghanaian Traders To Brazil
7/24/2012 3:30:57 PM -
Asia, particularly China has fast become the country of choice for many traders who import assorted products to resell to Ghanaians. But there is another source as reported in this report.
South African Airways, one of the 34 airlines operating in the country, has exposed Ghanaian traders to Brazil from where they can buy quality and durable products for resale in the Ghanaian market.
The move is intended among others to offer the traders an alternative business destination from where they can buy and sell exclusive products, particularly those made from leather.
A Senior Official of the airline, Mrs Sylvia Tumi, who accompanied the traders on the maiden trip said the airline was prepared to drive traffic to Brazil as an alternative destination from where they can buy goods for sale.
She said SAA was the only airline that provided shorter and reliable service through Johannesburg to Sao Paolo and other destinations in Brazil and expressed the hope that many traders would ply that route to do business.
For many years, Ghanaian traders have adopted China as the main destination to buy all manner of goods at cheaper prices for sale in Ghana.
Most of the goods brought in are imitated brand names and are of inferior quality, thereby raising serious questions about intellectual property rights and issues of copyright.
From clothes to leather products such as bags, belts and shoes for both sexes, wall tiles, wooden doors the famous Brazilian hair and plastics among many others, China has become the most preferred destination for hundreds of traders in the country.
Although many people who patronize the Chinese products, they have always complained about their durability and have wished to have alternatives even at a price to enable it last longer.
It was against this background among many others that the SAA researched into the needs of Ghanaians and identified Brazil as the next alternative from where Ghanaian traders can find quality and exclusive products from renowned designers whose products can stand the test of time to meet the needs and desires of the people.
Mrs Doris Bediako who has shops in many parts of the Central District of Accra told the Daily Graphic that “what we saw were of very high quality and the designs are unique and in vogue and, therefore, people will like to wear them”.
“My challenge is the price but I can say that, it will be far better for those who can afford to go for the Brazilian goods because they will last longer because of their durability”, she added.
Mrs Bediako said the Brazilian products, particularly the leather goods such as shoes, bags and belts are of better quality because of the leather used and added that “although they are expensive, it will be good for a certain market segment in the country, mainly the middle income class”.
On her part, Mrs Patricia Ofori, said as compared to the Chinese goods the traders mostly go for, the Brazilian products were much higher but will be appreciated on the market because they look more durable and exclusive.
“Once we have different classes of society, we can rely on the Brazilian products to meet the needs of that class”, she added.
Mrs Ofori who treks many parts of the world, particularly, China, Turkey and Thailand to buy goods for the market said going to Brazil might a little more expensive but “one will not lose because there will be a particular segment of society who will be interested in the products from Brazil because of their unique design, style, durability”.
Another trader who operates a number of boutiques, Ms Rosemary Effah Brew, said “what I saw is what my kind of customers wants and I am glad to have been exposed to this new market by SAA”.
She said most of her customers have asked about Brazilian goods because of their quality “but I have not been able to find any for them,” adding “with the deals struck now, I have a new destination to buy quality and durable goods to meet the taste of my customers”.
Brief About Brazil
Brazil has claimed United Kingdom’s (UK) spot as the world's sixth largest economy. Official figures showed its economy rose 2.7 per cent last year as against that of the UK's 0.8 per cent in 2011.
The per capita income of Brazilians remains less than a third of that enjoyed in the UK at $11,000 (£7,000) per head, but the situation is improving all the time while western economies largely stagnate.
The economic thinktank, the CEBR, predicted last year that Brazil would climb above the UK in 2012 and would itself be leapfrogged by India and Russia by 2020.
Brazil's dash for growth can be traced back to the mid 1990s when a string of privatisations ended the state's dominance of commercial life. China became a big customer, with a particular liking for soya beans and iron ore. The US also began to invest heavily in the country.
Top of the list of economic attractions is agriculture and the processing of foodstuffs, which account for about a quarter of Brazilian GDP and 36 per cent of exports. In the last 20 years it has become the world's largest producer of sugarcane, coffee, tropical fruits, and has the world's largest commercial cattle herd (50 per cent larger than that of the US) at 170m animals, according to official figures.
Oil is expected to become the next big commodity for export, especially if a way can be found to drill safely in the Atlantic's deep waters. Reserves are believed to equal those shared by Norway and the UK in the North Sea.
