GIPC, Chamber of Commerce host B2B meeting to drive agricultural growth

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has in collaboration with the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GNCCI), organized a joint business-to-business (B2B) meeting aimed at driving growth in the country’s agricultural sector.

The event brought together Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Multinational Enterprises (MNEs), along with stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, to discuss ways to bolster Ghana’s agricultural sector and its value chains in response to recent economic changes.

Speaking to participants, the Centre’s Director of Investor Services, Mr. Edward Ashong Lartey, highlighted the increased need for value-chain services in the agricultural sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted value chains and negatively impacted businesses. “Many investment promotion agencies have stepped in to help foreign businesses and multinationals adapt to these new circumstances,” he noted.

Mr. Ashong Lartey emphasized the significant impact of the current economic climate on small-to-medium business operators. He stressed the importance of integrating MSMEs into global or regional value chains to support and harness their potential.

 “A good way to support MSMEs is to integrate them into global or regional value chains,” he said. He pointed out that while most value-chain analysis is performed by the companies themselves, GIPC can accelerate the process by matching foreign affiliates with local suppliers. “One of the key things that GIPC does is fostering linkages; from joint-venture partners to identifying people who can provide the needed services,” he added.

# Mr. Ashong Lartey expressed optimism that the B2B meeting would facilitate meaningful interactions between MSMEs and multinationals, creating a pathway for mutually beneficial economic ties. He concluded by encouraging enterprises, both foreign and local, to reach out to GIPC’s Aftercare team to resolve their post-establishment issues.

The Head of Marketing at GNCCI, Mrs. Grace Dzeble, also addressed the participants, emphasizing the Chamber’s focus on fostering partnerships for businesses within the country. She highlighted the necessity of these partnerships to trade effectively under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “We have to do this so that when the bigger African market is fully opened, we will be able to build on the synergies to satisfy the [huge] regional demand,” she said. Mrs. Dzeble added that GNCCI has been keen on building the capacity of businesses in Ghana to prepare them for the larger African market. “The [GNCCI] has been keen on building the capacity of businesses in Ghana to prepare them for the bigger picture of the African market,” she concluded.

The B2B meeting represents a strategic effort by GIPC and GNCCI to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural sector, ensuring it remains resilient and competitive in the face of global economic changes. By fostering collaborations between MSMEs and MNEs, and integrating local businesses into broader value chains, the initiative aims to create a more robust and sustainable agricultural economy in Ghana.