The Centre for Policy Development in collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, the Ghana Enterprises Agency and the Northern Region Coordinating Council has launched the 2023 Northern Trade, Industrial and Investment Summit in Tamale.
The summit is scheduled to take place in March next year and seeks to open investment opportunities to small and medium size entrepreneurs in the north.
The summit would be held on the theme: “Improving Trade and Industries in Northern Ghana through Capacity Building and Investment”.
Executive Director at the Centre for Policy Development, Mr. Ishmael Yahuza, at the launch said the 5-day summit will begin from March 1, 2023, to March 5. There would be a cultural durbar, trade and exhibition fair, and business awards night to climax the event.
The CPD Executive Director in an interview told THE CUSTODIAN for far too long the north has been lagging behind, saying you will see government come out with initiatives and interventions and because the people are not proactive and uninformed they really don’t benefit from such programs.
Mr. Yahuza stated the program intends to bring forth the opportunities in the north and what the people are capable to do.
“This program we’re showcasing [from 1st March to 5th March] is expected to bring every stakeholder that has to do with building the capacity of business operators to do better to feed the Ghanaian economy and to export.
“So if you look at whatever we are doing today, we’re not doing as an institution alone, we’re collaborating with every institution you know this country has established to help the business environment like the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Ghana Enterprises Agency, Ghana Free zones, Ghana Investment Promotion Authority, Ghana EXIM Bank, GRA among others” he said.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu, in his remarks after formally launching the summit said it is an undeniable fact that the five regions in the north are blessed with abundant natural and agricultural resources which when enhanced would position the area as an industrial and tourism hub of Ghana.
“I dare say that it therefore behoves on us to take practical steps to maximize the benefits of these resources taking a cue from other developed countries who had less than what we have but were still able to break out of their challenges to where they find themselves today” he emphasized.
According to the Minister, attracting investments into northern Ghana and for that matter the metropolitan, municipalities and districts require concerted actions from players and stakeholders in the five regions to provide the necessary conducive environment as well as innovative strategies.
Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu argued the existence of thriving businesses hold the key to the socioeconomic transformation and development of northern Ghana and further pointed out that enterprises whether small or big, create jobs for people, facilitate income generation, reduce poverty and promote sustainable growth.
The Chief Executive Officer for Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Dr Afua Asabea Asare, for her part said the mandate of GEPA is to promote country’s non-traditional export commodities to ensure significant growth in export revenue and to contribute economic development of the nation.
She intimated an essential part their mandate is to assist export oriented small and medium enterprises to fully understand the opportunities that are available in the export market and to build their capacities to advantage thereon.
Madam Afua said this therefore supports their decision to collaborate with the Centre for Policy Development for the maiden edition of the Northern Trade, Industrial and Investment Summit.
On behalf of the CEO of Ghana Enterprises Agency, the Northern Regional Manager said the mandate of the GEA is strategically aligned with the ideas of the CPD to give a platform to micro, small and medium size enterprises to network, share information and form linkages to their mutual benefits.
She stated the summit couldn’t have come at a better time when her outfit supported over 200 businesses in the northern region to certify their products with the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority.
