President Akufo Addo in February, launched a new ten year cashew development plan.

The plan, is largely aimed at improving the production levels of the cash crop and increase the revenue from exporting it.

The plan also involves supplying improved seedlings and giving financial support to underperforming cashew processing companies.

According to the CEO of the GEPA, Gifty Klenam, these interventions should rake in about four billion dollars from the cashew sector and reverse the balance of trade deficit.

“We are putting so many things in place such as the ten year development plan for cashew that the President recently launched. We are looking at cashew alone giving us about forty percent of the overall target and for that matter, we are putting in so much effort into cashew production in terms of the seedlings development which is very crucial. Because if you are producing a product and you get it wrong from the seedling, the yield will be affected.”

Madam Gifty Klenam also disclosed that the outfit will commence a spraying exercise in October this year which will improve yields from the crop.

“Already, the yields that we were expecting to get from the existing plants we are not getting that is how come we started with the spraying of cashew farms in 2017. In October this year too, we are going to spray the cashew farms so we are able to at least increase production by three times.”

Meanwhile the GEPA has organized a market research training workshop for exporters.

The exercise is to expose the businesses to opportunities in the export industry and address some peculiar challenges that confront them in their line of work.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post New cashew plan to boost revenue by $ 4bn – GEPA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He has been interacting with various youth groups, market women and smallholder farmer groups explaining the project’s benefits.

He ceased the opportunity at the official launch of the “Dagbon Peace and Progress Now” project and announced the project.

Akilu Shaibu in a Citi News interview encouraged the teeming unemployed youth in the three regions of the north to take advantage of the project to improve their well-being.

“The vision of GEPA in relation to the one district-one exportable product initiative is to not only aimed at increasing export earnings from non traditional exports, but also creating jobs for the youth as well as increasing the earnings of various producers which can lead to accelerated development of the various districts.”

He mentioned cashew, yam, mangoes, groundnuts, Shea butter, handicrafts and local garments as some targeted exportable products that are available in the Northern Region.

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By: Abdul Karim Knaatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GEPA Deputy CEO engages N/R youth on exportable products appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr Akilu Sayibu made the call when he presented a lecture on “Commercial Representation Abroad” to thirty-seven Foreign Service Officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration who are proceeding on postings this year to various countries.

Mr. Sayibu also called on the FSOs to be in a position to guide and educate exporters on the various trade regulations, culture and barriers in their host countries to order to save potential exporters from falling foul of the law abroad.

He further urged the FSOs to be involved in export trade negotiations with exporters from Ghana who want to deal with new partners abroad.

The Foreign Service Officers were pleased of the presentation and said it was educative and made various suggestions that can enhance the relationship between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Deputy GEPA CEO admonishes foreign service officers  appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

At a day’s conference on implementation of the National Export Strategy in relation to the One-District, One Export Product, all the 24 MMDCEs  and their coordinating Directors in the Eastern Region were present to share their in-depth knowledge on best practical ways to ensure Ghana becomes a force to reckon with in the export industry.

The conference, according to the Director of Research at Ghana Exports Promotion Authority, Maxwell Osei Kusi, is aimed at equipping them to identify crops with potential for development in the region, and to be able to role in out on government’s planting for foods and jobs program, to help boost the country’s exports.

“The decision to meet the chief executives and their planning directors is to get first hand information about the kind of crops each district can produce on a large scale is to help boost our economy. The MMDCEs also know where potential investors are in the districts and beyond, and we know with their help we can get as many investors as possible. We also want to create job for the people, increase export earnings and improve the lives of the people.”

FUNDING
The CEO of Exim Bank, Mr. Lawrence Agyinsam, who was a guest speaker at the conference in an interview with Citi News, indicated Exim Bank’s readiness to provide financial support to the districts to help them realize government’s policies on Agriculture and other sectors.

Mr Agyinsam indicated that, Exim Bank will make available an amount of GHC 100.000.00 to all the 26 districts in the Eastern Region, to help them plan, research and strategize in identifying the potential cash crops each district wants to engage in.

“Exim Bank’s vision is in line with government’s plans so we are ready to help government achieve these aims and objectives in the Agricultural sector and other fields as well.”

The CEO of Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA), Madame Gifty Kekeli Klenam, is optimistic that producing high quality standard products for exports will help make GEPA the leader in exporting Countries in Africa.

“Despite taking over GEPA in a poor state which used to be a one-man management, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that the right measures and policies are implemented to ensure we realize our goals and one of them is to make sure we consume and export only high quality farm produce of approved standards.”

“In view of this, we have partnered the Ghana Standard bBoard, the Food and Drugs Authority, and other relevant stakeholders, and they are here to give presentation as to how best we can produce the quality and standard products we require, and I am quite certain that when we do what is expected of us, we will be able to produce and export high approved goods with international standards, and this will make us the leaders in the export industry.”
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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post One-district; one-export product launched in Koforidua appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.