Carlos Ahenkora (second right) cutting tape to symbolize the official opening of the fair. Rendering him support are officials of the Chinese Embassy to Ghana and organizers of the event
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkora, has indicated that Ghana has not performed creditably over the years in terms of trade with the People’s Republic of China.
The Deputy Minister, in a keynote address delivered on Monday at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the China Trade Week Ghana, said Ghana’s exports to China are very marginal with a negative balance sheet.
According to him, in 2016, Ghana’s total export to China amounted to about GHC3.69 billion as against GHC7.7 billion of imports from China.
He said “this trend is not different in previous years taking into account the awakening spirit of pursuing industrial reforms, diversification and infrastructural development over the years to make China to be counted among the group of global competitive economies.”
He indicated that export commodities from Ghana to the Chinese market are predominantly primary and semi-processed products.
Mr Ahenkora added that “Ghana’s exports to China are dominated by traditional exports and are less diversified. These include gold, wood, wood products, sheanuts, cashew nuts, scrap metals, plastic waste materials etc.”
He stated that “in respect of imports, Ghana continues to import a lot of manufactured goods, stationery, textiles, chemical, tea, rice, toothpaste, tyres and inner tubes, glassware, bicycles, dry cells and automotive batteries, motor vehicles and spare parts, pharmaceutical products.”
According to him, “Regrettably, China does not import many of Ghana’s priority non-traditional exports such as vegetables, fruits, root crops, grains and legumes, and processed cocoa under the Ghana National Export Strategy and its accompanying implementation blue print, the National Export Development Programme.”
As a result, he urged Ghanaian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the Chinese market with respect to overseas investments.
He revealed that “areas of common developmental interest should be explored in a mutually beneficial way.”
Mr Ahenkora said “in view of this, government would extent an opportunity for partnerships in the development of industrial parks, One District, One Factory, garments and textiles and the development of our domestic trade.”
The three-day exhibition is expected to showcase about 50 high-end Chinese manufacturers looking to develop long term relations with local buyers.
The companies deal in chemicals, food & beverage, construction materials, outdoor goods, daily necessities, furniture, PPP, home electricals & electronics, clothing & textiles, television & satellite, baby products and personal care, among others.
China Trade Week (CTW) is organised by MIE Events, a Dubai and China based Exhibition Company.
As a business event, CTW Ghana is looking for professional buyers, as well as entrepreneurs who have been thinking about trade with China.
MIE Events Managing Director, David Wang said: “Our first China Trade Week in Ghana exceeded our expectations in terms of the number of visitors to the tradeshow, the quality of the speakers and the interest in the conference. This year, we are bringing more exhibitors and extending the event from two days to three days, so we hope the local business community will be eager to come again and see what’s new.”
By Melvin Tarlue