The launch of the platform formed part of GEPA’s programmes to find markets for Ghanaian products and promote the growth of non-traditional exports in general. It is a collaboration between GEPA, the State Secretariat for Economic Development (SECO), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to develop an interactive website, which is useful to the export ecosystem to find international buyers for Ghanaian products.

The workshop was put together by GEPA in partnership with UNIDO under its capacity building programme for Ghana with funding from the Swiss Government. Madam Afua Asabea-Asare, the Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, in an opening remark, said one of the challenges facing Ghanaian exporters was their inability to find international buyers for their products.

She said this informed the introduction of the market hub, which had become an integral part of GEPA’s activities, providing relevant and critical export market information to potential and seasoned exporters as well as the general business community.

“It has become one of GEPA’s flagship projects with amazing in-road in less than a year,” she said.  She said GEPA was committed to making the platform the best source of integrated export and business data in Ghana, hence the need to demonstrate the practical usage to exporters to enable them to navigate with ease.

The development of the market hub, she indicated, would go a long way to boosting market opportunities for Ghana’s export and generate substantial revenue for economic development. Mr Abdallah Banda, the Deputy Director in charge of Services, Manufactures and Petrochemicals, said the website, which was launched in December, last year, was already making impact with about 11,000 people visiting the site every month.

He said it was imperative for exporters to regularly visit the site not only to find buyers for their products but also get to know critical market access requirements, certification and standards.