SMEs urged to be more innovative to aid their expansion

Operators of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), have been urged to be more innovative and adopt best practices to aid the expansion of their businesses.

Mr Kofi Afresah Nuhu, the Ashanti Regional Trade and Investment Officer, Ministry of Trade and Industry, said they should look for new ways of doing things to become competitive.

The Ministry through its Business Advisory Centres (BAC), he said was ready to give them every needed support to grow, create jobs and wealth for the people.

He was speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Ashanti branch of the Ghana National Flour Users Association (GNFUA) at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi.

“Forging closer collaboration with government to address the operational challenges to improve the bakery industry and offer employment opportunities to build a better Ghana”, was the theme.

The event was used to take stock of the activities of the association and plan ways to achieve optimal performance.

Mr Nuhu said the BACs would liaise with the various trade associations to build the capacity of members in the areas of bookkeeping, packaging, labeling, procurement and investment.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by the bakers because of urbanization and high production cost.

Added to these is the growing sophistication of consumers in terms of what they eat to promote their health.

Mr. Nuhu urged members to work in concert with organizations such as the Ghana Standard Authority and Food Research Institute (FRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to maintain high standards of food hygiene and wholesomeness of their products.

This was critical for their entry into the international market.

Mr. Kwame Buor, Regional Chairman of the Association of Small-Scale Industries, encouraged the bakers to forge a solid front and work together to protect the industry.

Source: GNA