Ghana’s
Non-Traditional Exports sector records 32.54% growth in
first quarter 2009
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, June 15, Ghanadot - In
spite of the current global economic crisis, which is
sweeping through various sectors of the global economies,
Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) has an impressive
performance in the first quarter of this year compared with
the same period in 2008.
Data emanating from the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC)
indicate that exports during the period amounted to $316.71
million, representing a growth of 32.54 per cent over
revenue of $238.95 million for the same period of 2008.
Processed and semi-processed products contributed about 86
per cent to the total revenue.
Cocoa paste, plastic products, cocoa butter and canned tuna
were among the top 10 leading products during the period.
The European Union and ECOWAS are the major destinations for
NTEs, accounting for 44.58 per cent and 35.68 per cent of
the market respectively, the Executive Secretary, Ghana
Export Promotion Council (GEPC), Mr. Collins Boateng, has
disclosed in an interview with the Ghanadot in Accra.
However, he indicated that the NTEs sector were not entirely
safe from the impact of the economic crisis.
Speaking at a two-day workshop to examine the harmful
effects of the global economic downturn on the export
business community, Mr Boateng noted while there was
continuous demand for exports, some importers were asking
for extended period of payment and this could impact on
working capital of exporters.
To this end, , the Council is focusing on improving market
access of NTEs in the West African sub-region as a means of
offsetting any dip in demand in the EU market.
There are also plans to explore opportunities in other
countries in Africa, especially South Africa.
The workshop is being organized by GEPC in collaboration
with the Netherlands Centre for the Promotion of Imports
from Developing Countries (CBI).
The workshop is to arm SMEs that export products to the EU
with insight into the crisis and measures to be taken to
have a better chance at survival and to be well positioned
for the up-turn.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, John Gyetuah, who
gave the keynote address, hinted that the government
supported the active promotion of exports of NTEs to the
ECOWAS sub-region as a way of boosting intra-African trade
to offset reduction in exports to the EU market.
The government would provide the necessary support to GEPC
to increase its market access activities significantly
within the ECOWAS sub-region and other markets in Africa.
Ghanadot
