The Centre for Policy Development in partnership with the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ghana Enterprises Agency and Ghana Revenue Authority has opened the maiden Northern Trade, Industry and Investment Summit in Tamale to build the capacities businesses and entrepreneurs in various sectors of trade and industry.
The program begun on Tuesday, March 14, and expected to end on Friday, March 17, 2023 with series activities outlined for the 4-day summit on the theme: “Improving Trade, Industry and Investment in Northern through capacity building”.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, in his address said the Northern zone produce a lot of quality raw foodstuff and other non-consumables for both domestic and external markets.
He noted however that the primary producers of these goods do not often gain maximum benefits from their produce as a result of a myriad of challenges.
Alhaji Shani indicated a lot of SMEs have brighter ideas but lack skills in primary processing of agricultural raw materials to the packaging of finished products which most often do not comply with high international safety, quality and export standards as expected.
He therefore commended the Centre for Policy Development (CPD) as well as all other stakeholders for the initiative and hope that many other brilliant ideas will bring about development for the area and the country at large.
Executive Director for Centre for Policy Development, Mr. Ishmael Yahuza, in a media interview said the north has abundance of resources untapped, thereby organizing the summit to build the capacity of businesses and also invite investors to come and see whatever there is in the area so that they can be able to invest in the ecological zone.
He said this will lead to job creation and employment, reduce poverty and improving the livelihood of the people.
Meanwhile, the four-day event involves an exhibition of products, cultural durbar and a business seminar and awards night to climax the program.
