GEPA holds capacity-building workshop for 60 SMEs in IT sector

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V), is organising a specialised capacity-building programme in International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for firms in IT and IT-enabled services within its network.

The 6-day training, which began on July 19, 2023, is intended to provide tech firms with the requisite knowledge and tools to be able to bid and competitively win contracts abroad.

Addressing participants, the Deputy CEO of Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Samuel Dentu, emphasised the importance of strengthening the knowledge and implementation of international best business practices for Ghanaian firms to compete effectively on the global stage.

He underlined the growing competition that local businesses face, particularly with respect to trading in services and obtaining international deals through international competitive bidding.

Mr. Dentu added that GEPA is committed to helping entrepreneurs upgrade their knowledge and skills to enable them to compete favourably with countries such as India, Singapore, Thailand, and others.

He said the primary goal of the initiative is to equip participants with the requisite skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in global markets. The training will be instrumental in positioning Ghanaian businesses to effectively compete with major global players.

“Winning foreign contracts through international competitive bidding takes a lot more grit and meticulous preparation in all aspects of the bidding process. Today’s business concern is competing against major global players. The competition is even more pronounced when the radar is placed on the trade in services. If we want to compete favourably with notable countries such as India, Singapore, and Thailand among others, we need to up our game.”  __ Samuel Dentu (Deputy CEO, GEPA)

He said the training programme will focus on various aspects of international business practises, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape and how to leverage it for their benefit.

The programme is divided into two parts. The training for the first cohort of trainees will end on July 21, while the second cohort will start on July 26 and end on July 28, 2023.