We seek to promote local businesses to boost the economy - Trade Fair CEO

The 2022 Grand Sales of the Trade Fair Company have been launched at the West Hills Mall.

The launch of the grand sales preceded the main exhibition which is currently taking place at the forecourt of the West Hills Mall.

Addressing the press at the event, the CEO of Ghana Trade Fair Company Ltd Dr. Agnes Adu said the Grand Sales aimed at creating the opportunity for small-scale businesses to sell their locally manufactured products to Ghanaians.

She noted that West Hills Mall was chosen due to its spacious nature and environment which she said would enable many SMEs to participate in the Exhibition.

"The move is to help create enabling business environment for the Small scale businesses to help boost local patronage of goods manufactured in Ghana to enhance the economy. This is the second time in the same year that we are organizing it here I think there is a good symbiotic relationship between the two”, Dr. Adu said.

She stressed that the Trade Fair Company has a lot of partnership programs but the Grand Sale is basically to enable SMEs to afford the exhibition and expose them to a lot of customers.

The Trade Fair boss stressed the need for Ghanaians to buy made-in Ghana products adding that “we are putting values on our raw materials where the market is actually seeing the fruit of industrialization”.

She indicated patronage of made-in-Ghana products reduces import of raw materials which in turn strengthens the country's economy.

Adding that, the Grand Sales was in accordance with promoting the President's 1D1F initiative as she encouraged Ghanaians to also visit the exhibition centres at the West Hills Mall and purchase some of the products on display.

On her part, the Head of Communications of FDA, Madam Rhoda Appiah revealed that FDA is collaborating with the Trade Fair in the Grand Sales to help license those SMEs who have no license.

She said the FDA has launched the Progressive Licensing Scheme in that regard to enable the SMEs to register adding that some have registered except a few.

Madam Appiah who said the Progressive Licensing Scheme was geared towards ensuring the safety of products also noted that the SMEs are given training on packaging as part of the Progressive Licensing Scheme.

The Exhibition which began on the 31st of August 2022 ends on the 4th of September 2022.