By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, May 07, GNA – Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Regional Integration on Tuesday launched the Third Made-In-Ghana Bazaar in Accra.
The event, which is scheduled to be held at the Accra International Conference Centre
(AICC) from the 23rd to 25th of May, is on the theme "Promoting Made-In-Ghana Goods and
Services for Economic Prosperity".
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is organizing the three-day event in
collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other institutions such as the
Ghana Export Promotions Authority (GEPA), the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
(GIPC), the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) and the
Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
It is expected that about 5,000 exhibitors from various sectors of the economy would be
participating in the three-day bazaar, which seeks to promote Ghanaian products
internationally, using the network of Ghana’s Diplomatic Missions.
The Made-in-Ghana Bazaar, which is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Regional Integration, was launched in 2018 following Government’s decision to re-
establish the Economic, Trade and Investment Bureau of the Ministry in 2017, pursuant to its
economic and industrial transformation agenda.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey in her address said the Bazaar had been strategically designed to
harness the efforts of the nation's micro, small and medium size businesses and to promote
their products and services globally through its diplomatic Missions abroad.
She recalled that the Second Edition of the Made-in-Ghana Bazaar was held in July 2019,
however, due to circumstances such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the
event stalled for the past three years.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey noted that the overarching objective of the Bazaar was to use the
network of Ghana's Diplomatic Missions abroad and Diplomatic Missions accredited to Ghana
to facilitate the penetration of Ghanaian products and services into foreign markets.
She said the Bazaar also creates the needed platform to build strong relationships between
Ghana’s local industries and the well-established markets of our foreign partners abroad.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said the Bazaar also aims to re-echo the need to patronize Made-
in-Ghana goods and services while improving on the production, processing, packaging, and
distribution chain.
She said the Third Edition of the Bazaar would provide exhibitors with an opportunity to
showcase a wide range of innovative products and services, as well as to establish contacts
with strategic partners, exchange experiences, explore business opportunities, and to
consolidate relationships with new and existing customers.
This year’s Bazaar will feature side events around the following themes: The Changing
Nature of Diplomacy; 21st Century Economic Diplomacy-A Private Sector Perspective;
Equipping the Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the African
Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr John-Hawkins Asiedu, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said the
Third Edition of the Made-In-Ghana Bazaar would offer the Ghanaians the opportunity to
showcase the best that Ghana could offer; saying "from our traditional textiles to our
delicious cushions, we have a lot to be proud offer".
"Our local products are not only unique and of high quality but are also affordable and
accessible at all times."
Mr Dela Gadzanu, Volta Regional Chairman, AGI, appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to ensure that the annual Made-In-Ghana Bazaar was rotated among the regions just like
how the nation's independent day celebration was being rotated among the regions.
GNA
KOA/GRB
May 07, 2024
Caption:
Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (3rd from left on front row) in a group photograph with
dignitaries at the event
