Why Ghanaian businesses love Izmir Fairs

Ghana participated in the 84th Izmir International Fair in Turkey and exhibited an array of products including pharmaceuticals, honey, herbal and shea butter from August 28 to September 2, 2015.

About 12 companies participated in the fair, which saw the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) aggressively promoting the country’s tourism potential to Turkish travellers and the Centre for Plant Medicine Research showcasing made-in-Ghana plant medicine, food supplement and natural ingredients, and attracting investments for their research and commercial production.

A peculiar thing about the fair was that it opened in the evenings, around 4pm, which gave participants the opportunity to attend to other needs during the day.

They therefore had ample time to meet with manufacturers of agricultural equipment and the Chamber of Industry and Tourism Ministry for discussions on value addition and technology innovation.

The Ghanaian delegation also met with the Mayor of Izmir, the Governor and featured on television programmes.

  GEPA

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), is responsible for promoting non-traditional exports (NTEs). It does this through various means, including attending fairs and organising solo exhibitions of made-in-Ghana products in targeted markets.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gideon Quarcoo, described the Izmir Fair as a combination of market, a mission and a fair that presented so much for the Ghanaian businesses to focus on moving forward.

He advised entrepreneurs not to sit back and expect the government to grow their businesses but rather show seriousness in attracting investments and getting markets for their products.

“Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint-hearted. You can’t step in there and not be there in prime time – being there and producing and competing with others who are doing the same thing. Yes, government can, at times, provide a stimulus package to help a particular sector, but as a going proposition, you are running businesses so you also need to invest a certain quantum to be able to make it,” he said.

Exhibitors’ assessment

Some exhibitors told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS that the exhibition was generally good and most of them expressed the desire to penetrate the Turkish market, using that country’s increasing taste for made-in-Ghana products.

Mr Samuel Kobla Wede of Alpha Samuelson Enterprise said he was able to make inroads. He has been engaged in bee keeping and honey production since 2004.

“My participation has given me an opportunity to receive international certification for Halal, kosher and organic products,” he said.

The Halal (Muslim) symbol on a label, similar to kosher (Jewish) symbol, signifies that a product conforms to religious standards. It is also valued as an independent verification mark of a carefully and closely supervised process representing quality, integrity, purity and extra safeguard.

SepeNatural Organic Products Industry Trading Corporation, which manufactures honey and herbal supplements in Turkey, has already begun discussions with Alpha Samuelson in a bid to get Alpha to supply it with honey and bee wax.

 Mr Samuel Nii Quarcoo of Quarcoo Initiatives, with its brand name as Quinn Organics, producer of organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and juices, said their expectation was to find buyers for their fresh juices and essential oils.

It is the only company certified to sell organic yam.  

“It’s a process and we have identified few contacts who have expressed interest. With the yam, for example, the general public is interested but we need to do more. We tried to cook and fry some and we saw an enthusiastic patronage so we need more of that to create awareness. For the juices, it’s more of industrial application so we are hoping that contacts will be identified,” he said.

Hajia Fati Issah of Alagie & Fati’s Co. Ltd, shea butter products and makers of black soap, said the company’s prospects in the Turkish market looked promising after several interactions with players in the sector.

Writer’s email: ama.baafi@graphic.com.gh