GEPC wants 2% of EDIF proceeds to promote NTEs

Accra, Aug 1, GNA - Mr Kobina Ade Coker, Board Chairman of the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) has appealed to the government to seed two per cent of proceeds from the Export Development and Investment Fund to the Centre.

He said this would enable the GEPC to develop and promote the country's Non-Traditional Exports (NTE) in a sustainable way for increased revenue generation.

Mr Ade Coker made the appeal at a forum to climax the 'GEPC's 2010 Export Week' activities, which recognized the important role that corporate Ghana and other partners of GEPC played in the development of the country's exports.

It was on the theme: "Providing World Class Export Development and Promotion Solutions for Competitive Exporting".

He said "if GEPC is sufficiently resourced, it will be in a better position to support our esteemed exporters to diversify markets and products to offset any negative impacts on the international market.

"This is because over the years, Ghana has relied on traditional markets in Europe and America. Anytime there is a challenge in these areas, our exports are swiftly and badly affected," Mr Ade Coker said.

He said through a programme dubbed "Think Export, Touch GEPC", the Centre had begun implementing measures to re-brand itself by creating export mentality on the minds of the exporting community in the country.

Mr Ade Coker said the GEPC through the programme would educate various sections of the populace on the significance of exports, with the objective to market the NTEs as a sure alternative to business success.

He said the GEPC would also strengthen the capacity of its staff with resources to enable them to provide information that would help the exporting community to make strategic decisions on markets and products for better business transactions.

"We will establish Export Information Centres in all our Zonal Offices to provide information on markets available to the business community no matter where they may be across the country, so that they do not have to come to our head office for just information on markets," he said.

He thanked the private sector for its continued support for the event.

Dr Kwadwo Owusu Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer of GEPC, assured that the Centre would continue to implement reforms to enhance service delivery to its clients.

He said "GEPC is poised to take on greater challenges to increase earnings in the NTEs sector".