Some Ghanaian exhibitors have given the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) thumbs up for a smooth organisation as the curtains draw on the 18th China International Investment and Trade Fair in Xiamen in the Fujian Province.
The exhibitors told the Ghana News Agency that patronage was good and they had been able to establish contacts with some Chinese investors interested in distributing their products.
Akwasi Amoako of Jone Art Works said their participation was well organised and their exhibits arrived on time.
He said there were opportunities in the Chinese market so it was important to consolidate the gains made through the participation of future fairs.
Mrs Francesca Opoku of Solution Oasis said while there were enormous opportunities in the Chinese market, Ghanaian exporters must work to tap into them, especially through the offer of quality products.
Besides, there was the need for follow-ups, the understanding of Customs regulations and the ability to meet the differences in taste of the diverse Chinese population.
Mr Ahmed N. A. Tackie Obili, owner of Hispano Enterprise, dealers in artefacts, lauded GEPA for the organisation and said he made contacts through the business to business session.
Mr Gideon Quarcoo, Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, described Ghana’s participation in the fair as a success.
He said apart from exhibitors making business to business contacts, Chinese investors themselves were also meeting with the delegation to find ways of investing in Ghana.
Mr Quarcoo, was, however, unhappy that some exhibitors did not see it important to participate in the business to business sessions and urged them to commit themselves to such meetings in the future as they could translate into huge opportunities.
Mrs Agnes Gifty Adjei-Sam, Deputy Director, Trade Research and Information, said the Xiamen Fair offered opportunities to exhibitors on three levels, the exhibition, matchmaking and investment fair.
She said the matchmaking was important as it enabled some entrepreneurs to identify and establish contacts with potential investors for future partnership.
Mrs Adjei-Sam said the investment forum also provided Ghana the platform to expose her business opportunities to potential Chinese investors while some big investors had expressed interest to set up plants in Ghana.
Mrs Sarah Brainoo Arhin, Director of Operations, Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund, said the funding support for the exhibitors was worthwhile as they had made useful contacts.
She urged exporters to desist from seeing participation in fairs as a selling platform but to instead concentrate on contacts for meaningful future follow-ups to grow their businesses.
The four-day event, under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce, provided a unique opportunity for local and foreign participants to seek cooperation and explore business opportunities.
GEPA, under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, coordinated the participation of 20 Ghanaian entrepreneurs and institutions in the fair.
This is the second time Ghana is participating in a fair in China. The first was in 2013 at the Yiwu Forest Products Fair.
