WAITEX forum to boost manufacturing, mining and packaging sector

The 2020 West African Industrial and Trade Exhibition (WAITEX) has been launched in Accra with a key focus to boost the manufacturing, mining and packaging sectors of Ghana.

As a forum for trading, business networking, learning, and product sourcing, WAITEX is expected to take place from April 21-23 at the Fantasy Dome of the Trade Fair Grounds in Accra with an anticipated 2,000 visitors, with 50 exhibitors already booked and over 80 more expected.

The exhibition is on the theme: “Supporting Ghana’s Fourth Industrial Revolution”

According to Regional Director-West Africa of the Afrocet Montgomery Group, the exhibition seeks to create an environment where indigenous businesses foster partnerships that promote trade exchange.

George Pearson speaking at the press launch of the exhibition on Wednesday, February 19 in Accra explained that the event is important for Ghana because it focuses on key parts of the economic growth plans laid out by the government.

“These include the manufacturing, mining, and packaging sector. The manufacturing sector is one of Ghana’s key Industrial Transformation Agenda including the popular one district, one factory (1D1F) among others and this is backed by the average annual growth of exceeding 10 percent for the three years in the industrial sector.”

“The packaging sector is also very important because of the challenge of poor packing quality often on offer making finished good unattractive and extremely difficult export because of the quality,” Pearson noted.

Pearson adds that Ghana’s mining sector has been a vital export industry is now bouncing back after a few years of difficulty.

“This has been brought to the fore in the recent reopening of Ghana’s flagship mines; AngloGold Ashanti, with President Akufo-Addo making the first pour. With the element in place, the timing is right for an event to provide the networking platform for all the industry stakeholders to congregate annually and this is why WAITEX has been launched,” George Pearson said.

Victoria Akosua Cobbah, a Principal Investment Promotion Officer at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) lauded the organisers of the exhibition, the Montgomery Group for selecting Ghana as the go-to destination to the exhibition.

“WAITEX 2020 is a testimonial that Ghana is the go-tO destination for high performing investment on the continent and I would like commend the organisers for a good work so far which will contribute to promoting Ghana as the leading country for mining, industrialization, packaging and health/safety investment destination,” she noted.

Akosua Cobbah urged Ghanaian companies doing business in the mining, manufacturing and packaging sectors to leverage on the trade and investment opportunities the exhibition offers and sign up as exhibitors in order to fully partner with international companies coming in.

Mr Dominic Oduro-Antwi, the President of the Ghana-India Trade Advisory Chamber, said the fair would encourage and deepen trade networking amongst participants.