By Francis Ntow
Accra, July 22, GNA – The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Netherlands’ Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) have signed a deal to improve Ghanaian exporters’ access to European Union markets.
The partnership is expected to provide technical assistance, market intelligence, business linkages and capacity building to help local businesses meet international trade requirements and expand exports.
Mr Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur (Esq), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEPA, and Mr Jeroen Verheul, Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Accra on behalf of their respective institutions.
The non-binding agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between GEPA and CBI to strengthen Ghana’s export competitiveness through exporter coaching, direct links to European importers and buyers, trade fairs and strategic partnerships on access to finance.
It will also support Ghanaian businesses to comply with European Union market access requirements, including certification and sustainability standards.
Mr Verheul, representing the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, said the partnership demonstrated his country’s commitment to strengthening trade relations with Ghana through mutual economic benefit.
“The EU is an important trade market, and the Netherlands is an important gateway to the EU. Therefore, this collaboration is essential, especially due to the specific priority value chains of the Embassy in Ghana,” he said.
Mr Verheu said the agreement would help address challenges faced by Ghanaian exporters and Dutch and European importers
It will create opportunities in areas including ports, river transportation, cold chain logistics, food safety, security and value addition.
Mr Arthur said the collaboration supported GEPA’s mandate to diversify Ghana’s export base beyond traditional commodities such as gold and unprocessed cocoa.
“The Netherlands is Ghana’s top destination for Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs), stating that the partnership with CBI aligned with Ghana’s ambitious target to scale the NTE revenues to US$10 billion by 2030.
Mr Arthur said the initiative would enable Ghanaian exporters to better understand importer requirements, diversify products, strengthen their capacity and improve their competitiveness in the Netherlands and European Union markets.
Mr Wim van Heumen, representing the Managing Director of CBI, said the organisation would combine resources with GEPA to support small and medium-sized enterprises in key sectors.
He said the support would focus on sectors including horticulture (fresh fruits and vegetables), cocoa, agribusiness (PFV) and the final phases of the Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (IT/BPO) services programme.
The signing ceremony, held at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Accra, was attended by Mr Eddison Mensah Agbenyegah, Ghana’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, and senior management members of GEPA.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Francis Ntow