Embassy Of Ghana In Mali Co-Hosts Solo Trade Exhibition

.... With The

Association Of Ghana Industries

In Bamako

The Ghana Embassy in Bamako, Mali, in conjunction with the Association of Ghana Industries, has held a nine (9)-day’s Solo Trade Exhibition of made-in-Ghana products as part of its trade promotion activities in Mali as well as towards the enhancement of commercial activities between Ghana and Mali.

The Exhibition which was formally opened by His Excellency Donald Adabere ADABRE, Ghana’s Ambassador to Mali on 29th April, 2011 continued up to Saturday, 7th May 2011, and was well patronized by various captains of industry and traders from both Ghana and Mali. Products exhibited included electrical cables, wood, plastic products, textiles and jewelries, cosmetics, beverages, beads and handicrafts etc.

In his Opening Address, H.E. Donald Adabre alluded to the fact that the Solo Trade Exhibition signified the beginning of efforts aimed at building on the political foundation bequeathed by the founding fathers in the early 1960s, by way of the Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union. He stated that such trade exhibitions were what would propel the strategic relationship between Ghana and Mali to much higher levels and for direct benefit to Ghanaians and Malians.

According to him, Ghana was one of Mali’s most important trading partners and indicated that in 2009, his country placed 15th on the Malian overseas imports league table out of 132 countries recorded. Within the sub-region, Ghana was the 5th exporting country in terms of value and volume, behind Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo. He also mentioned that Ghana enjoyed a significant margin of favourable balance of trade with Mali and, therefore, encouraged the Ghanaian business community to build on that momentum to better the existing record. He was of the opinion that inter-regional trade and south-south cooperation were the key to unlocking the huge economic potential of Africa. Earlier, Nana OWUSU-AFARI, the President of the Association of Ghana Industries, who was also present at the Opening Ceremony, informed participants present that by the Solo Trade Exhibition companies were being offered huge opportunities to explore and develop potential markets existing in both Ghana and Mali, and also called on governments in the West African sub-region to provide the requisite support, specifically by addressing the various challenges facing the private sector and by creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and expand beyond national borders.

The president of the Malian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Jeamille BITTAR, who also addressed the gathering, informed that the event would boost economic and business ties between Ghana and Mali for the mutual benefit of their two respective peoples. He stated that the objective of the exhibition was to assemble economic operators to explore ways and means to further promote the commercial relations between the two countries. He invited the Ghanaian Exhibitors to participate in an upcoming Malian International Trade Fair scheduled for November, 2011.

A total of eighteen Ghanaian companies and businesses participated in the Exhibition.

GHANA EMBASSY

BAMAKO

MAY, 2011