<<Print>>

The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has indicated that one sure way of achieving the export revenue target of USD5.3 billion by 2021 will be to implement Ghana’s National Export Development Strategy (NEDS).

Madam Afua Asabea Asare mentioned this at the 2nd formulation workshop of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS) currently taking place at Aqua Safari, Ada.

Delivering her welcome remarks at the opening ceremony, Madam Asare mentioned that her organisation is well aware of H.E. the President’s “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda which can be equally achieved by riding on the back of increased exports.

She mentioned that over the last few years, GEPA has initiated some key programmes and activities that are expected to start yielding results and devoted efforts in capacity building of exporters to ensure favourable competition in international markets.

GEPA has also supported product development initiatives by procuring and distributing improved vegetable seeds and coconut, cashew, pineapple and yam seedlings to farmers and out-grower groups in various production zones across Ghana. The intervention is intended to considerably improve product supply capacity of priority crops and products.

Delivering the keynote speech on behalf of the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Patrick Poku, Director for Trade Facilitation at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, reiterated the need to review the National Export Strategy to align with the Government’s ten-point agenda for industrial transformation.

The National Export Development strategy is expected to serve as a blueprint that provides the roadmap for the attainment of the revenue targets and also reflect government policies, programmes and projects such as the One District One Factory (1D1F), Strategic Anchor Industries, SMEs Development, Industrial Revitalization (Stimulus Package), Export Diversification, Industrial Sub-Contracting, Industrial Park/Economic Zones, Planting for Export and Rural Development among others.

It is also envisaged that the National Export Development Strategy will prescribe measures that will enable Ghana leverage on and take advantage of the Free Trade Agreements such as the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) with USA and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) which ensures Ghana’s export products enter into these markets duty-free and quota free as well as the up-coming African Continental Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).

The 3-day workshop is being attended by participants drawn from parliament, exporters associations, academia, private sector, government and representatives from civil society organisations.