Trade Fair Centre to be transformed into Mini Expo City

Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - The Government would support moves to turn the Ghana Trade Fair Centre into Mini Expo City to enable it to better play its role of promoting trade, investments and tourism, Vice President Aliu Mahama, said in Accra, on Thursday.

The multi-purpose facility would house a cinema complex, exhibition halls, a hotel, a shopping arcade, a convention centre, a warehouse and a leisure centre.

Vice President Mahama, who said this when he opened the ninth Ghana International Trade Fair, commended the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC) for engaging architects in a contest to develop the best models for the project.

The Government, Vice President Mahama said, had also provided some funds to the GTFC to construct an ultra-modern air-conditioned exhibition hall to attract professional and exotic trade exhibitions to Ghana.

"The provision of such infrastructure is line with Government's programme of creating an enabling environment, which would propel the private sector to constitute the pivot of economic growth and the creation of employment and wealth," he said.

He said it was unacceptable that the Trade Fair Centre had not seen any major rehabilitation work since its construction in 1967, adding that the Government would support every effort to bring it to modern standards.

Vice President Mahama challenged Ghanaian business people and entrepreneurs to aspire to participate in sub-Regional and international trade to increase their earnings and to create employment.

He pledged the Government's assistance to make their businesses thrive in line with the agenda of implementing an export-led growth strategy for the benefit of agro-processing firms and manufacturers. The Vice President urged Ghanaians to patronize the fair to see the ingenuity and creativity of citizens and foreign participants. Nearly 1,000 local and foreign companies have registered to participate in this year's International Trade Fair, making it the largest in the country's history.

The 750 local exhibitors and 161 foreign companies represent a significant increase in the number of exhibitors, products and companies to participate in such international fairs in Ghana.

The theme for the Fair, which would end on March 8, is: "Charting New Frontiers for Trade and Investments".

The Fair seeks to deepen efforts in projecting Ghana as a safe haven for investments and trade.