The Chinese Embassy is offering 250 business visa slots to Ghanaian merchants and businesses, attending the 124th Canton Fair in China.
The event, which is scheduled to begin from October 15 to November 4, this year, is expected to draw investors, traders and businesses from over 50 countries across the world.
Various products and items that will trade at the fair include electronics, vehicles and spare parts, chemical products, machinery, energy resources and lighting equipment, among others.
The Head, Economic and Commercial Section at the Chinese Embassy, Chai Zhijing, explained to the Goldstreet Business that the event has a lot more to offer Ghanaian businesses especially at this period where government is emphasizing more on manufacturing and industrialization.
“We are gradually coming to terms with this country’s growing economy and that’s why we have decided to put on offer 250 slots for organizations and individuals who want to be at the fair to do business,” he said.
Chai believes Ghana’s participation in the event will, not only boost individual businesses but will, also, serve as a platform for drawing investors to the country.
Highlighting on the prospects of the fair, Managing Director of the World Trade Centre Accra, Jane Reindorf-Attoh, said the event provides thousands of merchants the chance to source goods for their businesses.
“Our promotion of the Canton Fair in China, falls in line with our efforts to provide local businesses with access to import and export opportunities around the globe,” she explained.
The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng indicated that a major benefit for trading with China is the diversity of products on the Chinese market, which is readily available to the international market, particularly Africans in regard to employment.
“Trading with China has generated a lot of employment to many in recent years, through Ghanaians who own and operates retail shop, wholesale and warehouses that accommodate imported products from China, including sectors in Ghana such as hospitality, real estate and manufacturing,” he said.
By Wisdom Jonny-Nuekpe