GEPA ENGAGES NEW SMES UNDER “DISCOVERY TO INTERNATIONAL MARKET PROJECT”

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has deepened and broadened its engagement with emerging Ghanaian enterprises by organizing an orientation session for newly identified Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) as part of its Discovery to International Market (DIM) initiative.

The session was given strong management-level backing with the participation of Mr. Raymond Rashid Kramer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of PR & Marketing, and Mr. Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of HR & Administration, who both addressed the participating SMEs and reaffirmed GEPA’s commitment to supporting promising Ghanaian businesses to become competitive and export-ready.

During the welcome remarks, Mr. Raymond Rashid Kramer, DCEO/PR & Marketing, emphasized GEPA’s commitment to moving beyond merely identifying promising products to building sustained relationships with the businesses behind them. He urged SMEs to regard GEPA as a strategic partner in their growth and export endeavors and to make full use of the Authority’s expertise, market development initiatives, and promotional platforms.

He emphasized the importance of quality, robust branding, suitable packaging, consistency, and effective market positioning in developing Ghanaian brands capable of competing internationally. Furthermore, he urged enterprises to maintain ambition and openness to enhancement, emphasizing that distinctive Made-in-Ghana products can achieve global recognition when producers intentionally cultivate brands that fulfill the expectations of their target markets.

Mr. Ambrose Edwin Nsarkoh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Human Resources and Administration, also reaffirmed Management’s commitment to enhancing the capacity and ensuring that GEPA’s interventions effectively address the tangible needs of businesses. He encouraged participants to share their challenges openly with the Authority, emphasizing that understanding each enterprise’s specific requirements is essential to developing impactful, targeted solutions.

During the session, Mr. Banda Abdallah Z. K., the Director of the Trade in Services & Manufactures Department, delivered an informative presentation regarding GEPA’s mandate, the support services provided, and the overarching objective of the engagement. Participants took the opportunity to share their entrepreneurial narratives, experiences, challenges, and specific areas where they require assistance. It was an excellent occasion for open dialogue and reciprocal learning.

The enterprises applauded GEPA for the Discovery to International Market initiative, particularly for its proactive strategy in identifying innovative and distinctive made-in-Ghana products and collaborating with producers to understand the requirements for international market readiness.

Through the DIM, GEPA aims to identify promising Ghanaian products, evaluate producers’ needs, and facilitate pertinent interventions in areas such as capacity building, product enhancement, packaging and branding, standards and certification, market intelligence, and access to international markets.

The initiative is part of GEPA’s broader drive to build a stronger pipeline of competitive Ghanaian exporters and to position more Made-in-Ghana products in regional and global markets.