500 Women, youth-owned SMEs benefit from export package
More than 100 women- and youth-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are set to benefit from an export readiness support package aimed at helping them expand into international markets.
Of the total number, 30 export-ready businesses will be selected in the first phase of the programme, which begins in August this year, and provided with direct support to access foreign markets, while an additional 70 businesses will receive guidance on export registration and certification processes.
The beneficiaries will be selected from 500 SMEs that participated in a nationwide capacity-building programme organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), with support from TradeMark Africa, which culminated in a workshop in Accra.
The training equipped participants with practical knowledge and skills in export competitiveness, market access, digital trade, certification requirements and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Focus on intra-African trade
The First Vice President of GNCCI, Emelia Assiakwa, at the opening of a two-day workshop on trade competitiveness in Accra on June 8, said the initiative was designed to help Ghanaian businesses build stronger trade links within Africa and take advantage of opportunities created under AfCFTA.
She urged participants to look beyond traditional export destinations and explore opportunities across the continent through stronger collaboration among African businesses.
“The way to go is for us to do business among ourselves as Africans. If we join forces, you can imagine the things that Africans can do,” she said.
She said the chamber had worked with TradeMark Africa to identify promising businesses across the country and provide practical support to improve their export competitiveness.
Targeted support for SMEs
Mrs Assiakwa explained that the programme was designed to support SMEs at various stages of export readiness, ranging from businesses already engaged in international trade to those with marketable products but limited certification and market access, as well as enterprises still developing their export strategies.
To address these gaps, she said the chamber would categorise participating businesses and provide tailored assistance, including guidance on registration, customs procedures, certification requirements and market entry strategies.
The first vice added that the programme would initially focus on a smaller group of export-ready companies before expanding support to additional businesses over time.
Trade opportunities
The Programme Manager in charge of Gender and Inclusive Trade at TradeMark Africa, Niango Brice Adou, said the project was being implemented to help women and youth SMEs take advantage of trade opportunities at the national, regional and continental levels.
He explained that the initiative sought to unlock the potential of SMEs, which account for the majority of businesses and jobs in the economy, by equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to access international markets.
Mr Adou said the programme would focus on critical areas such as export requirements, market access, standards, sanitary and phytosanitary compliance to enhance the competitiveness of participating enterprises.
He added that a number of the SMEs would receive intensive support under the next phase of the project to help them grow into larger businesses capable of creating jobs and contributing more significantly to economic development.
Background
The GNCCI, with support from TradeMark Africa, organised the two-day regional workshop under the GNCCI-WAY SMEs Trade Facilitation Project.
It was on the theme: “Enhancing the Export Competitiveness of Ghanaian SMEs through Strengthened Institutional Capacity.”
The workshop provided women- and youth-led SMEs with practical training in export competitiveness, market access, trade agreements, export readiness, digital trade, certification requirements and opportunities under the AfCFTA.
The programme sought to strengthen the capacity of Ghanaian businesses to compete effectively and access regional and international markets.