Koforidua, (Eastern Region) 8 Oct.,
The second Eastern Regional Trade and Tourism Fair ”Dwa Pa 97” ended at the Hotel Eredec at Koforidua yesterday. The seven-day fair, which was under the theme ”Promoting Export For Economic Growth and Development” attracted a number of companies and enterprises, as well as eight district assemblies in the region. It was organised by Royal Trade Promotion Ventures in collaboration with the Eastern Regional Coordinating council, the ministries of Trade and Industry and Tourism, Ghana Export Promotion Council, Ghana Tourist Board And the Ghana Trade Fair Company. The European Union (EU) provided 10 million cedis while the UNDP and Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) provided technical support under its capacity utilisation development programme. In all, 89 exhibitors and 45 sponsors were awarded certificates. Closing the fair, the New Juaben municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Adu-Boateng, suggested to the organisers that for the next fair to be highly competitive, awards of prizes to the participating organisations should be institutionalised to attract more of them. He called on the organisers to make the fair a yearly or biennial event and collaborate with all district assemblies to evolve better strategies and ideas towards an improved fair in future. Mr. Adu-Boateng stressed the need for young entrepreneurs and low income women’s groups who took part in the fair to be assisted to develop their potentials. Mr. Adu-Boateng advised such entrepreneurs to take advantage of the existing business assistance fund and the 20 per cent of the yearly common fund to districts set aside for small scale businesses. Mr. Clement Nyaaba, Eastern Regional Trade and Industry officer, expressed gratitude to the EU, UNDP, District Assemblies and other sponsors for making the fair a success. He said Trade fairs are important because they are a means of promoting development. Mr. Robert K. Ajene, Eastern Regional Director of education who chaired the function, advised Ghanaians to patronise locally- manufactured goods. Mr. Ajene called for continuous mounting of such fairs which, he said, will help promote the development of the region.
