EXPO Africa urges entrepreneurs to develop competitive skills

Accra, April 14, GNA - Ghanaian businesses have been asked to develop skills capable of making them highly competitive and acceptable on the international market as a means of survival.
"I suggest that you sharpen your skills in your areas of business as well as making it a point to build the capacity of your business associates if you are to survive the intrigues of international business practices," Mr Kwame Owusu Afriyie, Executive Director of EXPO Africa Limited told prospective exhibitors at a seminar in Accra on Thursday. The seminar was to outline new additions introduced by EXPO Africa to make this year's event a reflection of its name.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu would not take part in this year's EXPO to be held in the Georgia World Congress in Atlanta, Georgia. The event is meant to attract industrialists from Africa and the USA and present them with the opportunity to explore the unique heritage of both nations.
Mr Afriyie said: "Our focus this year is the trade, investment exhibition and the business seminars which would have renowned persons from all over Africa."
He said EXPO Africa 2005, a trade, investment and cultural event showcasing business and investment opportunities in Africa, would for the first time have other African countries participating from September 29 to October 2, 2005.
Mr Afriyie said so far 21 African Countries have expressed "deep" interest in participating in the historic event, which would attract 20,000 attendees and about 15,000 companies in the areas of industry, agriculture, agro-business, electronics, computers, textiles and garments, fashion and the wood industry among others. He said this year's event was to increase intra-Africa trade in an international atmosphere where businesses could create opportunities for themselves.
"For the first time we are not just looking at exporters alone, but companies and businesses interested in importing to Ghana and Africa." Mr Roland Adade, of the Commercial Section of the US Embassy said global business is very competitive and urged the exhibitors to be abreast with the trends.
He outlined the services the Section offers and asked them to make contact whenever they were in doubt, adding: "It is important to keep records, have brochures, and a good banking history and culture". Mr Adade noted that American businesses were meticulous and wanted to buy things in large quantities.
" You must therefore be able to meet the demands of the companies you would meet during the event," he said.
Mr Adade said better qualities of crafts such as carvings and kente were been done elsewhere in the world, "hence we must improve on our skills and make products more attractive and buyer-friendly".