GTFC WINS AWARD FOR GHANA

On an august occasion in Togo during the 6^TH ECOWAS TRADE FAIR on the 10^th Dec. 2011 at the plush Sarakawa hotel, the Ghana Trade Fair Co. Ltd lifted the flag of Ghana high after Ghana adjudged the best country to take the most space, participation, good stand and exhibitor organisation and excellent national day celebration. Thus Ghana was awarded the top most prize during the fair with an excellent plaque.

Ghana beat all the ECOWAS countries who participated in fair. as part of Ghana’s award, the country has being given the mandate to host the 7^th ECOWAS Fair. Ghana hosted the 2^nd edition of ECOWAS Trade Fair in 1999.

Ghana, being a leading member of ECOWAS has played and continuous to play a leading role in the promotion and organization of ECOWAS Trade Fairs in the sub-region. Ghana has therefore participated actively in all previous ECOWAS Trade Fairs.

As passed by the Ecowas Council of Ministers, the Fair was originally organized every four (4) years. The first Ecowas Trade Fair took place in Dakar-Senegal in 1995

The 2nd and 3rd editions were held in Accra-Ghana and Lome-Togo in 1999 and 2003 respectively. After the 3rd Ecowas Trade Fair a decision was taken for the event to be organized biannually thus Lagos-Nigeria hosted the Fair in 2005. Ougadougou hosted the 5th edition in 2008 instead of 2007.

La Cote d’Ivoire should have hosted the 2010 edition but the then political atmosphere made it was not possible for the event to be hosted in 2010 as originally planned.

The republic of Togo accepted to host the 6th Ecowas Trade Fair. The 6th Ecowas Trade Fair was accordingly held from the 25th November to 12th December, 2011 in Lome, Togo in conjunction with the 9th Togo International Trade Fair.

In line with the ECOWAS protocol, the Ecowas Commission is the main organiser of the Ecowas Trade Fairs. The rationale is to promote free movement of goods and people throughout the ECOWAS sub-region. The Ecowas Commission works through a Regional Organising Committee.

2011 year’s 6th Ecowas Trade Fair was under the Theme “Strengthening intra-Community Trade through Public and Private Partnership agreements”

The exhibition was designed to promote goods and services produced within members of the Ecowas community.

In strict sense therefore non Ecowas countries and goods produces outside the Ecowas sub-region are not permitted in the Ecowas Trade Fairs except by a special arrangement and approval from the Ecowas Commission.

Ten (10) instead of the fifteen (15) countries participated in the 6th Ecowas Trade Fair

Exhibitors either individually or collectively exhibited their goods and services in the following categories:

•             Batik Tie & Dye and African Clothing

•             Artefacts and Handicrafts
•             Textiles, Garments and Accessories
•             Leather and leather Goods
•             Cosmetics and Skin Care Products
•             Banking and Finance
•             Telecommunication
•             Medical and Pharmaceutical Products and Services and Herbal Medicine
•             Water Distribution and Management etc.
•             Building and Construction Materials and Equipment
•             Industrial and Production Machinery
•             Agriculture and Agro-Industry
•             Healthcare Equipment and Accessories
•             Wood Products and Wood Processing Equipment
•             Research, Education and Training Systems
•             Business Equipment and Data Processing
•             Information Technology Equipment
•             Advertising Materials and Equipment
•             Furniture, Habitation and Electrical Materials
•             Printing
•             Domestic Equipments
•             Food and Drinks

 The aims/objectives of the fair were as follows;

 •             To promote Trade in the sub - region.

•             To promote regional integration
•             To network member countries through trade
•             To provide a single platform for Members countries of  Ecowas  to showcase their  potentials to the continent and her international counterparts

•             Provide a gateway to the Growing Markets in the sub region

•             To attract Foreign Direct Investment to the sub-region
•             To promote non-oil exports in the sub-region.

Ghana Trade Fair Co. was mandated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to organise Ghana’s participation. That was upon the recommendation of the Inter-institutional Coordinating Committee which constituted the National Organising Committee (NOC)

GHANA’S OBJECTIVE FOR PARTICIPATION

•             To exhibit Ghana’s economic potentials and investment opportunities

•             To strengthen institutional relations and collaboration
•             To promote Ghana’s cultural and tourist attractions
•             To open up our borders for smoother and easier movements of people and goods.

Generally, the Fair in terms of organisation was very good. From stand construction to accreditations to organisation of conferences to country days celebration etc.

 A total floor area of 320sqm was acquired for Ghana’s participants. Ghana’s participation in the 6th Ecowas Trade Fair was made up of 39 participants. The breakdown is as follows:

•             27 private individual companies, and
•             12 Governmental Agencies.

 In addition, about 10 more individual Ghanaian companies participated in the 9th Togo International Trade Fair which is being held in conjunction with the 6th ECOWAS Trade Fair. The impact of the Lagos Fair which ended before the Ecowas Fair downplayed on early registration. Many exhibitors who registered for the Lagos fair had no rest before participating in the Ecowas Fair. This brought about late registrations since their goods did not arrive early to be hauled to Lome.

Over all, attendance and patronage was excellent as publicity was very high. However, many exhibitors observed the massive visitation was not directly linked to Sales.