Some of the products on exhibition
SNV, a Netherland Development Organisation has organized a GrEEn Trade Show for green businesses in the Western Region to showcase their products, services, and inventions.
The 2023 GrEEn Regional Trade Show was part of the Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) Project being implemented by SNV Ghana and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) with funding from the European Union and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana.
The initiative was aimed at helping the businesses to increase their market access and boost the local economy in the region.
The three days trade show was also to promote the participants’ products and services and increase their sales so they can increase production and create jobs. The Trade show was the third and final edition of the GrEEn Regional Shows.
In all, about 68 businesses across SNV’s three core sectors; agri-food, energy and water and sanitation– located in the Western Region exhibited their green and eco-friendly products ranging from food, cosmetics and solar-powered gadgets.
Out of the number, 39 were graduates of a six-month GrEEn Incubation and GrEEn Acceleration Programmes and had received training and business advisory support from SNV with some being awarded grants to grow their businesses.
The remaining 29 were sustainable and eco-friendly local businesses who have been supported by Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and GIZ Ghana.
This came to light at a GrEEn Regional Trade Show to showcase products, services, and inventions of green businesses in the Region.
SNV Ghana partnered the Ghana Export Promotion Centre (GEPC), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) to organize the trade show.
Lauali Saddam, Project Manager of the GrEEn project indicated that the Project was also aimed at supporting the growth of green, climate resilient and sustainable businesses.
The Western Regional Trade and Industry Officer, Isaac Yankson, noted that the sustainability of the Green Innovation by SNV will depend on how the products become part of consumption pattern of the people through trade promotions.
In separate interviews, some of the beneficiaries of the Incubation programme were grateful to SNV and its partners for providing business advisory to support the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi