Build industrial zones for SMEs – Ghanaian exporter tells government

A Ghanaian producer and exporter of Made-in-Ghana cosmetic products, Mr. Moses Atobrah has called for the establishment of industrial zones or enclaves for small, medium scale enterprises that will offer a boost to businesses to produce increasingly and efficiently.

Speaking on the Eye on Port program on strategizing for the future of Ghana’s Non Traditional Exports, he said the establishment of these industrial enclaves will come to solve a lot of capital-related problems and prime SMEs for competition at the regional level.

He said small-scale and medium-scale manufacturers are preoccupied with making profits to offset expensive loans making it difficult to invest in factories by themselves.

“Funding has been a challenge for us securing bank loans for our business. It is really tough using your working capital to invest in building a factory. Manufacturing is very expensive if you consider the entire supply chain from raw materials to distribution. Things like packaging and barcoding alone costs a lot,” he lamented.

The CEO of Debbies Products Ltd entreated government to ease the ordeal of manufacturers by setting up these all-purpose factories in every region, where SMEs can operate in at a subsidized fee.

He said these factories with the necessary amenities such as electricity, good transportation networks linking to raw materials and distribution centres will propel Ghanaian SMEs to do more, and boost their export potential.

“At the end of the day government employs about 600,000 people and we spend over 70% of our GDP on salaries of these workers. Private sector employs a chunk of Ghanaians and can do more when supported. We do not want free money but create an enabling environment. What can be more enabling than setting up these enclaves with factories?” he quizzed.

Mr. Atobrah said this model has proven to be successful in the United Arab Emirates for example, where only little start-up capital and a good business strategy is required from indigenous companies to be supported.

The producer of African-herb-based cosmetics, nonetheless expressed a lot of hope for Ghana’s trade prospects with other African countries, citing the success of a GEPA-led exhibition in Kenya, which his company benefitted from.

“We attended the Ghana Expo 2023, and for the cosmetics, the response has been very good. In about a week or two we are going to ship Kenya already.”

He however called for expedited harmonization of standards to enable smoother business processes between African traders.

Mr. Moses Atobrah said Africa is blessed with so much and Africans should not cease to look within to find unique products to sell among themselves and outside the continent.

He opined that the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, when implemented well, can catapult the African economy on an unprecedented path of success.