Young entrepreneurs should explore non-traditional export sector

An Export Development Officer of the Ghana Export and Promotion Council (GEPC) has advised young entrepreneurs in the country to venture into the non-traditional export sector.

Mr. Fred Asante said non-traditional products such as plywood, artifacts, pineapples, oranges, pawpaw, pea, cotton and others have a high demand on the international market and advised young unemployed graduates in particular to venture into it.

Mr. Asante gave the advice in an interview with the GNA in Takoradi on Wednesday.

The Export Development Officer said the GEPC has the mandate to promote the export of non-traditional products and assist exporters to market their products in international trade fairs.

“The Ghana Export Promotion Council also gives guidelines to potential entrepreneurs in non-traditional products about how to export their finished products as well as packaging so as to meet international standards, “he said.

Mr. Asante noted that the GEPC worked in tandem with other state institutions such as the Ghana Standard Board, the Ghana Community Network Limited (GC-Net) among others in ensuring that non-traditional products are well packaged and marketed outside the country.

He warned prospective entrepreneurs in the export sector to deal directly with the GEPC rather than middlemen who might exploit them for their selfish gains.

Mr. Asante complained about inadequate funding from the government to support their activities saying, “Because it is a state institution, the resources allocated to us cannot support all our planned programmes and that had been our bane”

Source: GNA