Ghana has officially made its maiden appearance at the third International handicrafts week (SIAB 2019) in Grand Bassam in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) facilitated the participation of Ghanaian exhibitors as part of its marker access strategies for Ghana to consolidate its market in the sub-region.
About 40 companies from Ghana, mainly from the handicraft sector are showcasing products at the fair which runs from August 1-7, 2019.
Ghanaian products on display include contemporary African home decor, costume dolls, nativity sets, fabric bags and shoes, beads and beaded items, woodcraft, leather footwear, textiles and Shea butter products.
Organisers said the handicraft week is held annually to offer a unique platform for actors in the sector to enter the world’s fast-growing handicraft market.
Other participating countries include Niger, Guinea, Mauritania, Madagascar, Cote d Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The theme for Ghana’s participation is “Celebrating the Ghanaian Culture and Business Opportunities.”
The Director, Marketing and Promotion at the GEPA, Mrs Agnes Adjei-Sam, in an interview said the handicraft week was dedicated to artisans with the support of UNESCO to help craft from Africa reach the international market.
She said the GEPA was working under the Ministry of Trade and Industry to grow the non-traditional export sector by implementing the National Export Development Strategy.
She said Ghana’s participation was to increase export earnings in the sector.
“One way is market promotion. Coming here is part of the product development to ensure that before the product reach the international market, it would have also gone through some development to prepare them adequately for the international market”, she said.
Ghana’s Ambassador to Cote d ‘Ivoire, Mr Frederick Daniel Laryea, noted that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have been trading at various levels and mentioned the establishment of a cocoa floor price between the two as a recent example of the collaboration between them.
“The crafts sector is also an avenue being explored to increase trade between the two countries.
“I encourage our artisans to strive to sell products that are of high quality on the international market,” he said.
