By Sandra Agyeiwaa OTOO
In an effort to revamp Ghana’s agriculture industry, DHL, alongside SIPAB and Eurocham Ghana, organized a strategic gathering involving key stakeholders from select agribusinesses and small-scale farmers. The purpose was to explore and establish a viable trade logistics framework aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector sustainably.
The corporate gathering in Accra assembled major participants in Ghana’s agricultural sector, such as delegates from the Delegation of the European Union to Ghana, Anchor Management and Trading, along with various farmer collectives.
The gathering centered around a program designed to assist small and medium-sized businesses within the farming industry by setting up robust and economical trade infrastructure both locally, regionally, and globally. Additionally, this effort sought to enhance marketplace entry opportunities, develop skills, and decrease trading obstacles.
During his presentation, Maximilian Effah, DHL Regional Projects Manager – Trade Facilitation, discussed DHL Group’s GoTrade initiative. This program seeks to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) harness international trade for sustainable and equitable development.
He stated that the program operates on a “think globally, act locally” approach, with DHL Group’s worldwide resources aiding trade facilitation efforts that are initiated and managed at the national level.
Through GoTrade, we strive to enable SMEs to capitalize on international commerce and support nations using our ‘think globally and act locally’ strategy,” he explained. “We’re facilitating SME involvement in cross-border trade via skill development and collaborations, which directly contributes to Ghana’s economic expansion.
Mr. Serigne Ndanck Mbaye, who leads DHL Global Forwarding in West Africa as their CEO, expressed his appreciation for the collaboration between DHL, SIPAB, and EuroCham Ghana. This alliance aims to assist agribusinesses and small-scale farmers. He also emphasized the firm’s dedication to strengthening local enterprises via cost-effective logistical services designed specifically for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
“We have very ambitious plans for SMEs in Ghana. Basically our goal is to build the capacities of Ghanaian SMEs and support their competitiveness in global trade. This also includes demonstrating to SMEs, how to leverage regional trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme – for them to gain more market share in the sub-region,” he said.
Morgan Uloko, the CEO of DHL Express Ghana, discussed the company’s continuous initiatives aimed at generating value and minimizing expenses and uncertainties for small enterprises via trade simplification, advanced technology solutions, and capacity enhancement. Additionally, he shed light on how appropriate packing techniques employed by small and medium-sized businesses can influence their shipment’s volumetric weight.
Jimmy Eko-Acquah, who leads the Sustainable Improvement of Productivity for African Businesses (SIPAB) project, highlighted the critical necessity to tackle the issues within Ghana’s agricultural trade logistics framework that are hindering the growth and potential of this vital industry.
He stated, “This efficient trade logistics program will strengthen agribusinesses, enhance their market influence, lower product costs, and boost the competitiveness of Ghanaian items in both domestic and international markets. Additionally, it aims to foster regional integration by facilitating smoother movement of merchandise via targeted collaborations and financial commitments.”
Mr. Andrea Ghia, representing Eurocham Ghana, highlighted their dedication to supporting agriculture in Ghana via their agribusiness platform.
The agribusiness platform aims to boost trade and investments between Europe and Ghana within this industry. Emphasizing the significance of local agribusinesses and small-scale farmers joining forces into consortiums so they can gain enough bargaining power to secure equitable remuneration, financial support, and favorable market rates.
One of the entrepreneurs from Anchor Management and Trading at the meeting, Thelma MacLean, highlighted the assistance required by local agricultural businesses and small-scale farmers from various stakeholders and developmental organizations.
This backing encompasses additional development projects, capacity enhancement schemes, help with acquiring agricultural accreditations, and linking the regional industry to expanded market opportunities and potential financiers to ensure resources like production materials, processing hubs, storage spaces, and refrigeration systems.
The gathering ended with all parties involved committing to collaborate in order to back this extensive effort aimed at strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and opening up opportunities for them to expand into international markets.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
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