Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana’s cocoa, coffee, beauty, cosmetics, and fashion sectors gathered in Accra for a comprehensive workshop to enhance their export capabilities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) through its ‘One Trade Africa Initiative, Alliances for Action (A4A) programme’, in collaboration with SME Trade Academy, Afreximbank, and the ECOWAS Commission, the four-day event titled “How to Export with the AfCFTA” ran from July 18-19.
The workshop included a ‘train the trainers’ session and direct training for SMEs.
Participants were equipped with knowledge on navigating the complexities of intra-Africa trade, emphasizing the opportunities presented by AfCFTA’s preferential trade agreements within the continent.
Ms. Regina Hammond, AfCFTA Liaison Advisor at the International Trade Centre, praised the collaborative effort, highlighting the workshop’s role in empowering SMEs with practical skills and insights.
Mr. Ismael AMADOU TIDJANI, Trade Facilitation Expert at the ECOWAS Commission, underscored the alignment of this initiative with ECOWAS’s Vision 2050 and the Regional Strategy for AfCFTA Implementation, prioritizing youth and women empowerment for economic growth.
Key topics covered included value-addition strategies tailored to meet African market demands, removing trade barriers, and understanding market rules and regulations across different countries.
Divine Kutortse, Programme Manager at Ghana’s National AfCFTA Coordination Office, emphasized the vast market potential for Ghanaian coffee and cocoa products within Africa, stressing the need for value addition and collaboration among stakeholders.
Larry Attipoe, National Coordinator for ITC’s Alliances for Action in Ghana, highlighted the workshop’s objective to equip SMEs with tools to overcome export challenges and integrate into global value chains.
Representing Afreximbank, Wisdom Tawiah reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to promoting intra-African trade and urged participants to apply workshop insights to elevate Ghanaian businesses in the cocoa and coffee sectors.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the workshop, citing its informative and transformative impact.
They pledged to implement newfound knowledge to harness AfCFTA opportunities and expand their market reach across the continent.
The “How to Export with the AfCFTA” workshops are part of a broader initiative to empower SMEs across the ECOWAS region. They align with efforts to maximize intra-African trade benefits and foster economic development.
ITC and Afreximbank have also launched a complimentary online training platform, which will benefit over 10,000 SMEs and further support capacity-building efforts in the region.
