Ghana develops business in the vegetable sector

During the 2nd edition of Agrofood West Africa, starting last 2 December at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana, new business opportunities in the vegetable area were set for this African nation.

“Ghana’s local climate conditions are ideal for the production of tropical fruits and vegetables – said Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Minister of Ghana Food and Agriculture sector. Secondly, the country is in close proximity to many European countries. Importantly, Ghana’s growing middle class with a heightened health awareness of consuming vegetables, coupled with the rise of the supermarket industry, is fueling the gradual growth in the domestic market for vegetables”.

Although Ghana imports about a $1 billion worth of food products, including vegetables from the Netherlands, the Dutch government, which has had long standing ties with Ghana, rather sees great potential in producing such food items locally. “It has therefore rolled out the ‘GhanaVeg’ programme aimed at promoting the horticultural sector, with a fund and technical advice to stimulate Ghanaian businesses to invest in the agrofood value chain, covering improved seedling, solutions for land preparation, harvesting and processing, as well as packaging” continued Dhr. Hans Docter, Ambassador of the Netherlands.

The German Ambassador Mr Ruediger John stressed in his speech: “Despite the Ebola Virus disease and its negative impact on the lives of people, the economic and political stability not only in the affected countries but in the whole sub-region, Agrofood & plastprintpack West Africa sets a sign of solidarity”. “Ghana is one of the “top export markets 2014” said German Ministry for Economic Affairs, that have identified six countries that earn increased attention of the German export economy. Among the “top export markets 2014” are China, Columbia, Ghana, Indonesia, South Korea and the United Kingdom. State Secretary Stefan Kapferer concluded:” Despite their great differences, the selected countries are characterized by an above-average growth, a positive development in the core sectors of the German middle class and a stable business environment.” Great opportunities also open up for mechanical engineering.

SOURCE: AGROFOOD WEST AFRICA

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