Let’s do more for NTEs — GEPA boss
The acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Mr Stephen Normeshie, has underscored the need for the country to put in more efforts to ensure that non-traditional exports (NTEs) attain their real potential.
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According to him, over a period of 10 years — 2005 to 2014 — earnings from NTEs grew steadily at an annual average rate of about 14.8 per cent. It rose from $777 million in 2005 to $2.5 billion in 2014.
Opening a four-day training workshop organised by GEPA in Accra, Mr Normeshie noted that in 2009 there was a fall of about 9.38 per cent, amounting to US$1.22 billion, primarily due to the global economic downturn, a drop in Ghana’s competitiveness arising from increased cost of production and low production volumes experienced in that year.
In 2010 and 2011, earnings from the sector went up by 34.1 per cent and 48.7 per cent to $1.63 billion and $2.42 billion, respectively.
Again in 2012, the sector experienced a decline in earnings by 2.24 per cent, amounting to $2.36 billion.
In 2013, however, earnings from the sector went up by 3.05 per cent to $2.44 billion.
Mr Normeshie said the trend indicated that the country needed to put in more efforts to double the sector’s growth.
“This is because the export sector holds the best prospect for us as a country in order to attain economic development,” he added.
Export training
Meanwhile, the GEPA training in export marketing fundamentals for various exporters across the country is aimed at supporting the export community to acquire managerial, technical and trade capacity, which will help them to be competitive in the export business.
It is being organised in partnership with the Ghana Export School (GES), a unit under the GEPA.
At the end of the programme, 30 exporters are expected to be taken through courses such as export marketing fundamentals, product specifics, international training programme, GEPA staff capacity development and product specific.
Mr Normeshie said the courses offered were constantly reviewed in line with international developments and changing requirements of Ghanaian export companies.
He noted that the GES was always ready to develop training modules to meet the needs of product associations and identified groups of persons.
Participants
Some of the participants expressed their expectations of improving their knowledge to help grow their businesses.
An exporter, Mr Richard Odum, said he expected to acquire knowledge in modern trends of export trade in order to enhance his business.