Ghana’s to increase non-traditional export to 5.0 billion dollars

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) is to increase the country’s non-traditional export from the current export value of 2.64 billion to 5.0 billion dollars by 2017.

This will enhance the Gross Domestic Product of the country to increase the national income.

The country also aims at generating considerable number of jobs and incomes, which will be translated into improved standard of living and welfare of the people to consolidate the middle-income status. 

Mr. Gerald Nyarko-Mensah, Acting Director of Export Trade of MOTI, made this known at the weekend during the launch of the National Export Strategy in Tamale.

He said the strategy formed part of the national strategy for the non-traditional export sector from 2013 to 2017. The launch was patronized by exporters, producers and processors in the trade and export industry and politicians.

Mr. Nyarko-Mensah said the country needs an investment capital of 600 million dollars to implement the National Export Strategy document, which among other things, would build the capacities of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to enable the country achieve the goal.

According to him, the country would no longer depend solely on the export commodities but would over the period invest in fresh and processed fish, vegetable oils, root crops, grains and legumes, natural rubber and products of the creative arts.

Mr. Nyarko-Mensah said the strategy would put Ghana on the global map as a world class exporter of competitive products and services, to reduce poverty and promote sustainable environmental development and improve the balance in spatial and regional development.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Haruna Iddrisu, said government is committed to doubling the country’s non-traditional export sector with the priority of making the country the destination for export trade.

He said the primary constraints militating against Ghanaian exporters are their inability to add quality to their products to meet international standards. Mr. Iddrisu advised them to produce quality products to meet international market standards.