We’ve supported about 450 SMEs with resources to boost their businesses — GEPA
The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has played a pivotal role in expanding the Ghanaian market internationally, providing advocacy services, and facilitating export opportunities for local traders.
Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, GEPA's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, detailed several initiatives undertaken by the authority to support local exporters.
She highlighted that GEPA organizes workshops, exhibitions, and conferences to enhance export services for local companies.
One of the flagship programs involves sending local exporters abroad to participate in exhibitions.
"We give our exporters or manufacturers the opportunity to do exhibitions abroad. The beautiful thing about this is that the government buys the space for their exhibitions. A small space costs about 3500 Euros, but when we send our people, the government equips them and pays for the space for them," Dr. Asare explained.
She said, “GEPA has supported around 450 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), helping them to facilitate the export of their goods and providing them with necessary resources to enhance their businesses.”
“This support includes funding, training, and other essential services to ensure these SMEs can thrive in the competitive international market.”
Dr. Asare also mentioned GEPA's efforts in the agricultural sector, particularly through the coconut revitalization project.
As part of this initiative, GEPA distributes coconut seedlings to farmers to boost the development and export of coconut and its by-products.
"We want to expand our raw material base because we get a lot of orders that even if we decide to take all the coconut in Ghana, we can't meet those orders. It's made us very serious, hence we have currently embarked on a coconut revitalization project which for the past six years, we've been distributing coconut seedlings," she elaborated.