Central Trade Expo 2023 takes off
The Central Regional Coordinating Council has organised its second edition of the Central Trade Expo 2023, to showcase a variety of goods and services to promote businesses in the region.
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The expo officially opened with 150 exhibitors who had already set up their booths to exhibit their goods.
On display are items including jewellery, pastries, apparels, beverages, agrochemicals, rice from the region, handicraft, herbal remedies, insurance providers and educational institutions at the many booths.
The fair, which has as its theme: “Sustaining Business Opportunities: Nurturing small-scale Enterprise in Central Region," has exhibitors from the 22 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
There would also be a two- day- business forum in partnership with TIAST Group West Africa from China, as part of the expo to bring together creative ideas, entrepreneurs, investors and corporate bodies to find opportunities and solutions for their mutual benefit.
Opening
The opening ceremony last Monday was graced by various metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), religious leaders, corporate institutions, security agencies and traditional rulers from the various paramountcies in the Central Region.
At the opening ceremony, the Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dr John Hawkins Asiedu, who delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister of Trade and Industry, K.T. Hammond, said the Central Region had benefitted from the unprecedented push by the government and tremendous responses from the private sector to decentralise industrial development and spread job creation.
He said while the Central Region's economy boasted of a wealth of opportunities ranging from its assets as a hub of education, tourism, related services, mining and fisheries, it would take a significant increase in private sector investment inflows into the regional economy to achieve truly transformational results over the short term, in respect of inclusive and accelerated industrial growth, with higher levels of job creation.
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Dr Asiedu indicated that the government's commitment to sustainable business growth at the regional and district level was not mere rhetoric.
He noted that the Central Region had 21 IDIF projects at various stages of implementation, including nine factories in operation and 12 under construction across the region.
He urged all participants to take full advantage of the expo, saying it was a valuable platform for networking, exploring business opportunities and enhancing knowledge.
Purpose of fair
The Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, indicated that the dream of the fair was to stimulate economic activities in different parts of the region and beyond; harness economic potential; and to focus on the development of agro business.
She stated further that the CRCC was committed to the promotion of domestic tourism and above all, to attract private sector investment into the region to transform the local economy.
Mrs Assan added that the expo was a home-grown initiative designed by the CRCC in line with its regional Development Strategy and Transformative Agenda, to create visibility for the Central Region in areas of trade, tourism and investment.
However, the Central Regional Coordinating Council are closely organising this year's fair in partnership with TIAST Group West Africa from China, which specialises in agriculture, health
and information technology and has exhibitors from China in those sectors.
She commended the hardworking members of the Central Expo 23 steering committee for working assiduously to make the event a success.
Jobs for youth
At the ceremony, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, commended the CRCC for the initiative and called for the sustained creation of jobs for the youth.
He said it had been the aspiration of all citizens in the Central Region to have more industries and businesses in various sectors, to spur economic growth and jobs for the youth and businesses to thrive and to build their confidence to start their own business.
He noted that they were all aware that their region was endowed with economic potential which had not been fully harnessed.
He pledged that the Regional House of Chiefs would work to reduce chieftaincy disputes within the region to the barest minimum, to enhance the region's peace and attract investors.
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Innovative solutions
The Chairman for TIAST, Hehui Chen, stated that in the world of business they faced challenges that required innovative solutions, saying they recognised the vital role that industrialisation played in amplifying the potential of their business.
Mr Chen emphasised that the organisation was committed to investing in agro processing, to add value to agricultural produce, generating substantial foreign earnings while nurturing sustainable economic progress.
He noted that the Central Region was a beacon of agricultural potential, looking at its fertile grounds and abundant resources, adding that TIAST Group was poised and prepared to partner the region on a transformative journey as they marched forward into a future where agro processing would be at its peak.
The Guest Speaker, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of COA Research and Manufacturing Company, pledged support for the initiatives of the Central Region, adding that the company would work with relevant stakeholders to nurture small business in the region to go attain global heights.
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“However they require conducive atmosphere to be able to sustain their business operations and there is a need to provide technical support to their operations,” he said.
The Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who chaired the function urged investors to invest in the region.