More than 100 agribusinesses from Ghana, South Africa, India and other countries across the world are expected to converge on Accra on March 23 to 25, 2022 for this year’s agribusiness exhibition.

Organised by Agritech West Africa, the three-day event would cover the entire agriculture value-chain, ranging from machinery, agrochemicals, food processing and packed food and beverages.

To be held in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the exhibition is in line with the government’s plan of making agriculture a mainstay of the country’s economy.

Launching the event in Accra, Thomas James, Project Director of Agritech West Africa, said the exhibition was vital to help stakeholders in Ghana’s agriculture and food processing industry to learn about new practices, products and modern technology and innovation around the globe and adopt same to improve their trade.

He said Ghanaian and West African agriculture-based companies would have the opportunity to connect and network with manufacturers and suppliers during the exhibition.

The exhibition, he noted, would further involve seminars, conferences and pre-fixed meetings to enable exhibitors to discuss potential collaborations, partnerships, distribution arrangements, joint ventures and investment tie ups with business operators.

All the necessary arrangements had been made to observe the COVID-19 safety protocols to guarantee the safety and health of exhibitors, business operators and visitors,

Mr James said the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Association of Ghana Industries, Food and Beverage Association of Ghana, Chamber of Agribusiness, and West African Agriculture Chamber, among other groups would participate in the event.

Mr Jeremy Opoku-Agyemang, Deputy Director and Head of Agribusiness Unit, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), pledged the Ministry’s support to ensure the success of the exhibition.

He noted that agriculture was key to Ghana’s economic growth, contributing 19.1 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing 38.3 per cent of the labour force in 2020.

He said the government recognised agribusiness as a key driver of investment and transformation of agriculture and would support private sector efforts to achieving the set objectives.

Frederick AduAmoako, Chief Operating Officer of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pledged the more than 8,000 members’ commitment to participating in the exhibition and striking business partnerships.