‘Follow-ups necessary in foreign trade’
Ghana has been urged to do more follow-up negotiations to be able to access foreign markets especially after participating in trade fairs.
The Minister Counsellor / Commercial at the Ghana Embassy in Ankara, Dr John-Hawkins Asiedu, in an interview, said trade fairs offered limited time for Ghanaian entrepreneurs and so follow-up was necessary to get markets for their products.
“During a fair, there is always limited time for entrepreneurs to showcase their products. One might have identified some potential clients so when he follows up and goes into details with them then they show interest and the partnership begins,” he said.
He said the Turkish government had given impetus for Turkish investment drive in Africa and so Ghana should take advantage to increase its trade with Turkey.
Ghana’s exports to Turkey
Dr Asiedu said the volume of exports from Ghana to Turkey in the first quarter of this year increased to about US$56 million as compared to US$42m in the same period in 2014.
He said between January and July, following three successive trade fairs in Turkey, and a follow-up meeting in January this year, Ghana has exported 11 40-footer containers of fresh pineapple totalling about €96,000 to Turkey.
“In addition, we have also got market access for charcoal briquettes and the first container left Ghana just about a month ago. We have also been able to export 10.4 tonnes of fresh coconut worth about US$7, 500 dollars to Turkey last month,” he said.
He said currently, there is high market demand for sesame seeds, shea butter and cocoa products from Ghana and so Ghanaian entrepreneurs in these sub-sectors should take advantage.
Memorandum of understanding
Turkey has begun negotiations with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) on a Bilateral Investment Treaty and is yet to be concluded.
Following the Turkish President’s visit to Ghana in 2011 and a follow-up visit by President John Mahama to Turkey in 2013, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) for the establishment of an industrial park and collaboration of export processing zones.
Also, the Turkish Standards Institute and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has signed an MOU for exchange of ideas, capacity building and sharing of information to improve standards.
An MOU has also been signed between the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) and its equivalent in Turkey called KOSGEB to facilitate micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) development.
Some Turkish support to Ghana
So far, Ghana has received assistance from Turkish government through the Turkish Development Agency (TIKA) and which last year saw 14 midwives from all 10 regions of Ghana going to Turkey to train in maternal health issues.
Dr Asiedu said TIKA has also expressed readiness to support Ghana in the area of industry, tourism, agriculture (forestry, fishing) and transport.
Again, through the assistance of TIKA, the Science Resource Centre in Achimota Senior High School has been renovated at a cost of about US$25,000.
The Turkish Exim Bank is also financing water improvement projects at Akim Oda, Akwatia and Winneba.
Turkish economy
Turkey, with a population of 73 million, is Europe’s seventh largest economy and the world’s 18th largest economy. It has 76 cities.
Dr Asiedu said although not so naturally endowed, industrial technology was the key driver of the Turkish economy.
“They are developing at a faster pace because of their industry and innovation. If we can also develop our industry base and inculcate in our system technology drive we can also get somewhere very soon,” he said.
He recommended that Ghana should consider the signing of a Free Trade Agreement on agricultural products with Turkey, “As most of our exports are agric products and Turkey charges high custom duty on such products. So if we sign such FTA it will help us.”
Under the Turkish government education scholarship programme, 50 Ghanaian students are offered scholarship annually to study in Turkey at the master’s and PhD level.