The Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) has organised its second edition of the Central Trade Expo 2023, to showcase a variety of goods and services to promote businesses in the region themed: “Sustaining Business Opportunities: Nurturing small-scale Enterprise in Central Region”. The expo started on Friday, August 25, 2023 with an official launch on Monday, August 28. It is expected to come to its successful end on Saturday, September 02, 2023.

The expo officially opened with 150 exhibitors who had already set up their booths to exhibit their goods from the 22 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). On display are items including jewellery, pastries, apparels, beverages, agrochemicals, rice from the region, handicraft, herbal remedies, insurance providers and educational institutions at the many booths.

The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Mrs. Justina Marigold Assan, indicated that the purpose of the fair was to stimulate economic activities in different parts of the region and beyond, harness economic potential and to focus on the development of agro business.

She further stated that the CRCC was committed to the promotion of domestic tourism and above all, to attract private sector investment into the region to transform the local economy.

Mrs Assan added that the expo was a home-grown initiative designed by the CRCC in line with its regional Development Strategy and Transformative Agenda, to create visibility for the Central Region in areas of trade, tourism and investment.

She commended the hardworking members of the Central Expo 23 steering committee for working assiduously to make the event a success.

In the quest to creating jogs for the youth, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, commended the CRCC for the initiative and called for the sustained creation of jobs for the youth. He said it had been the aspiration of all citizens in the Central Region to have more industries and businesses in various sectors, to spur economic growth and jobs for the youth and businesses to thrive and to build their confidence to start their own business. He noted that they were all aware that their region was endowed with economic potential which had not been fully harnessed.

He pledged that the Regional House of Chiefs would work to reduce chieftaincy disputes within the region to the barest minimum, to enhance the region’s peace and attract investors.

However, the CRCC are closely organising this year’s fair in partnership with TIAST Group West Africa from China, which specialises in agriculture, health and information technology and has exhibitors from China in those sectors.

Mr. Chen emphasised that the organisation was committed to investing in agro processing, to add value to agricultural produce, generating substantial foreign earnings while nurturing sustainable economic progress. He noted that the Central Region was a beacon of agricultural potential, looking at its fertile grounds and abundant resources, adding that TIAST Group was poised and prepared to partner the region on a transformative journey as they marched forward into a future where agro processing would be at its peak.

The Guest Speaker, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of COA Research and Manufacturing Company, pledged support for the initiatives of the Central Region, adding that the company would work with relevant stakeholders to nurture small business in the region to attain global heights.