Ghana Expo In Italy

THE Ghana-Italy Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Ghana Embassy in Rome has launched Ghana Expo 2008 in Accra.

The seven-day trade Expo of made-in-Ghana goods will be held in Ente Fiera Promoberg in Bergama, Italy, from June 25 to July 2 under the theme: “Strengthening Ghana-Italy relations through trade”.

The main objective of the fair is to strengthen the business and economic ties between Ghanaian businessmen and their Italian counterparts as well as open up business and trade opportunities for participants.

Gifty Ohene-Konadu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, PSD and PSI who performed the launch said, “Ghana Expo 2008, being organised by the Chamber is very important since it provides a platform for Ghanaian business operators to showcase their products to Italian consumers and thereby lead to Ghana gaining a better foothold in the Italian market”.

Ms Ohene-Konadu said trade figures between Ghana and Italy revealed that the trade is virtually one sided and in favour of Italy, as Ghana continues to export mainly unprocessed items to Italy whilst it imports high value manufactured items.

She said the fair which will showcase made in Ghana goods should therefore be a useful tool in exposing to the Italian market Ghanaian manufactured items and thereby improve the trade balance.

“I call on the chamber to give a very wide publicity so as to attract a high patronage and ensure its success of businesses thereafter to secure sustainable business deals,” she said.

Alhaji M.M. Ramadan, president of Ghana-Italy Chamber of Commerce, in his remarks said the chamber which currently has over 1000 members was established to promote and protect economic and trade relations between Ghana and Italy.

Alhaji Ramadan said in line with the government’s policy of making the private sector the engine of growth, the Trade Expo has been designed to embrace key sectors in the business area to participate.