By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, May 14, GNA – GhanaFest Europe 2026 is expected to serve as a major catalyst for deepening trade and investment relations between Ghana and the Netherlands, with a strong focus on delivering concrete business partnerships and economic outcomes.
The event, scheduled for September 10 to 12, 2026, at the World Trade Centre in Amsterdam, will bring together businesses, investors, policymakers and industry leaders to explore opportunities for collaboration and market expansion.
Speaking at the launch of the GhanaFest Europe 2026 edition organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Ms. Hilde Famaey, General Manager, Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), said the 2026 edition would mark a shift from dialogue to actionable trade and investment partnerships.
She announced a formal partnership between the GNBCC, the GNCCI and RAM Media Concepts to organise the event.
Ms. Famaey explained that the programme would go beyond exhibitions by incorporating an intensive trade mission designed to connect Ghanaian businesses directly with Dutch investors, institutions and partners.
She described the initiative as a transition into what she termed “The Amsterdam Accord,” signalling a new phase of industrial synchronisation between Ghana and the Netherlands.
She said the focus would be on building value-added production systems and sustainable business partnerships, rather than merely exploring opportunities.
Ms. Famaey noted that the event would target growth-oriented Ghanaian enterprises ready to scale, particularly in logistics, green trade compliance and innovation in sectors such as horticulture and cocoa processing.
She added that the GNBCC was repositioning itself from a networking platform to an active facilitator of investment by matching Ghanaian businesses with Dutch capital, technology and expertise.
Preparations for the event, she said, were already underway, with selected companies undergoing matchmaking processes to identify suitable Dutch partners ahead of the expo.
Ms. Famaey urged Ghanaian businesses to participate with investment-ready proposals and clear growth strategies to maximise the benefits of the platform.
She also called on Dutch companies and financial institutions to leverage the event as a gateway to Ghana’s economy and the wider West African markets.
Mr. Augustine Mark, Chief Executive Officer of RAM Media Concepts, said the expo would deepen trade, investment and cultural ties between Ghana and Europe.
He said the theme, “Value Addition and Sustainable Partnerships: Shaping the Future of Ghana-Netherlands Trade,” reflected Ghana’s need to move beyond raw exports towards value addition.
Mr. Mark described GhanaFest Europe as a premier platform to connect Ghanaian exporters, businesses and institutions with European investors and buyers.
He said the 2026 edition would focus on sectors including agriculture, food processing, construction, tourism, fintech, pharmaceuticals and innovation.
Mr. Mark outlined three core pillars of the expo: a trade exhibition, structured business-to-business matchmaking sessions and cultural diplomacy initiatives.
He added that the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre would support the event with targeted investment pitches to attract European investors.
Mr. Mark said the event would also leverage Ghana’s cultural assets, including a planned Highlife music concert, to promote tourism and creative industries.
He emphasised that GhanaFest Europe 2026 would position Ghana as a competitive global player while strengthening bilateral economic relations with the Netherlands.
Mr. Mark called on stakeholders to take advantage of the platform to build sustainable partnerships and drive long-term economic growth.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei