EDAIF supports businesses and individuals in Central Region
The Management of Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund (EDAIF), has over the last two years disbursed Ghc10, 691 as loans to about 800 individuals and businesses in the Central Region.
The Fund has also within the same period disbursed Ghc1,092 as grants to beneficiaries of the Fund, who were into agro-processing and handicrafts.
Mr Abdul-Nashiru Issahaku, Chief Executive Officer of EDAIF, made these known at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Fund over the weekend at Elmina.
The meeting was attended by beneficiaries of the Fund and other stakeholders drawn from districts in the region.
It was to introduce to them EDAIF’s new agriculture and agro-processing development, credit facilities as well as the changed of Export Development Investment Fund to Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund (EDAIF).
Mr Issahaku expressed hope that many businesses in the country would be able to add value to their produce before they are exported, to increase the foreign exchange of the country.
He urged operators in agriculture and agro-processing to patronise the services of EDAIF to enhance the growth and development of their businesses.
Mr Issahaku explained that EDAIF was initially funding companies, which exported products in raw state, but it has now included the provision of financial resources, to enable people, particularly those in agriculture and agro-processing to add value to their produce.
He explained that activities financed under the Agriculture and Agro-processing Development facility included product development and promotion, capacity building and research, development of infrastructure, common user facility and the development of promotion of other agriculture and agro-processing entrepreneur activities.
Madam Sally Torpey, Founder and Creative Director of Sallet Foundation, said EDAIF supported her outfit with funds to enable her to travel to Miami for a fashion show, thereby show casing her foundation internationally.
Some farmers, who were present at the meeting, appealed to the Fund and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to create market for them.
Source: GNA