Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyeremanten, says that the successful implementation of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS) will quicken the pace of development of the exports sector.
In a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration and maiden meeting of NEDS sector group committees in Accra, he also indicated that the state’s export policy document will further give impetus to the government’s efforts aimed at leveraging the huge opportunities that are offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“A strong collaboration between key implementing partners and all players within the non-traditional exports sector is vital in ensuring an effective implementation of the interventions for the 17 priority products identified in the NEDS,” he added.
According to the minister, the formation of the the specific sector groups will create a platform for knowledge sharing and experience on the priority products as well as encourage concerted efforts towards the development of the respective products.
Mr. Kyeremanten further assured of his ministry’s continuous supervision to ensure that the NEDS is fully implemented and urged all stakeholders to support the initiative.
The NEDS is an initiative of the Ministry of Trade and Industry that is being implemented by GEPA to develop the potential of non-traditional exports through industrialization and intense collaboration between government and the private sector.
To ensure the successful implementation of the NEDS, the strategy document proposed a governance structure comprising an inter-ministerial oversight committee, the steering committee, the NEDS Secretariat and sector group committees to provide the needed guidance and supervision for the strategy.
Sector groups and the various committees will be based on the priority product groupings including non-agro products, trade and investment facilitation, agro-products, tech and innovation, services export, transport and logistics, finance, infrastructure and utilities, local government and creative and industrial arts.
Formation of sector groups/committees
The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has engaged stakeholders in the exports sector towards the formation of specific sectors groups/committees to supervise the development of key products that have been identified in the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS) to hold huge potential for boosting the country’s exports.
In a speech read on her behalf, Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, the setting up of the sector groups and committees to serve as the fulcrum around which the strategy would be implemented is in fulfillment of one key recommendation of the NEDS.
She assured that GEPA remains committed to performing its expected role of coordinating the development and facilitation of exports in general and the implementation of the National Export Development Strategy in particular.
“It is my expectation that we will all be committed to the tasks ahead of us so that working together, we can achieve the desired results,” she said.
