Some Chinese at Ghana’s stand
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) spearheaded the participation of 12 Ghanaian companies in the first China International Import Exposition in Shanghai.
The Board mounted a stand and displayed cocoa and processed cocoa products.
The stand hosted COCOBOD, CPC, PBC Shea and Niche Cocoa Company, while other participating companies displayed their products at the Ghana Country Pavillion.
The companies were Afrikocof Handicrafts, Debbie’s Products Ltd, A.D. Agrispro Company Ltd, Solutions Oasis Ltd, Efanj Checas Ventures, Venet Naturals, Odeki Ghana Ltd, Domain Ventures and Yaabs Creations.
About 100 different items were displayed at the country stand.
These included natural seed products, processed cocoa and shea butter products, alcoholic beverages, processed coconut oil products, ginger products, moringa products, tigernut products, cashew products, plantain chips, beaded items, shito and tom brown,
The alcoholic beverages- Takai, Mandingo, Alomo and Brukutu were hugely patronized daily throughout the exposition.
Chinese visitors formed queues daily at the Ghana Country Pavilion and the COCOBOD Stand to sample the products.
Many visitors wanted to buy the items at the country pavilion, especially the cocoa and shea butter creams and soaps.
Others were directed to the COCOBOD stand to buy processed cocoa products, especially chocolate and cocoa powder products.
After the closing ceremony many Chinese trooped to the Ghana Country Pavillion and some of the exhibitors made good sales.
Following the huge demand for some of the products, a few of the exhibitors stayed behind to close deals, while others decided to travel to Dubai to participate in a trade show that would be held over the weekend.
One of the exhibitors commended the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, for his personal commitment to the exposition, but asked that next time arrangements should be made for participants to stay at one place and conveyed to and from the exhibition.
Three officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Assistant Commissioner Seidu Yakubu, Senior Revenue Officer Augustine Adubofuor and Revenue Officer Edward Adjenim-Boateng, gave explanations and answered questions on customs procedures and taxes throughout the exposition.
By Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh