Over 500 local and international exhibitors mount stands at SADA-Ghana InternationalTrade Fair in Tamale

Tamale, and by extension the entire northern region, was given the honor to host the 20th edition of the Ghana International Trade Fair Company which got off to a grand start on Thursday at the Tamale sports stadium with a call on the people in the Savannah Accelerated Development (SADA) Ecological Zone to take advantage of the Fair.

Since its inception, this is the first time the GITFC has held a Fair in the northern region. The Fair has attracted a host of business men and women from three continents, as far away as China, India, and South Africa and as close as Nigeria, Togo, Senegal and Benin. According to officials of the Trade Fair Company, over 445 of them who arrived in Tamale days before the event started exhibiting their products on the opening day of the Fair.

Over 280 exhibitors from the SADA Ecological zone and the 26 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies have also displayed their wares and services at the Fair.

The Deputy Brong Ahafo regional minister, Samuel Justice Anin who launched the Fair entreated the people in the five regions of SADA to make good use of the opportunity to exploit the rich business potentials they have.

The paramount Chief of Sagnarigu Traditional area, Ambassador Yakubu Abdulai who chaired the event urged business communities in the region to establish good relationship with their international counterparts for new ideas to enhance their businesses.

Board Chair of the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC) Ms Hannah Brenda Anewenah Amoateng, said the company is very encouraged about the attendance.

Ms Brenda explained that Tamale hosting of the fair is part of the company’s rebranding strategy and efforts to reach out to businesses outside the nation’s capital Accra.

The Fair in Tamale, she explained further, was also to expand and open its operations to every part of Ghana. The initiative she said hinges on two core values, trade and investment potentials in the host region and identified strong development oriented strategy partner whose main focus is to see the development of the area.

“Our quest for organizing the Fair here is to open and unlock the vast business and investment potentials in the Savannah Ecological Zone which is endowed with enormous business  potentials” she explained.

This she said, if successful implemented will reduce poverty, unemployment and also eliminate conflict which is endemic in SADA zone.

“No society or nation can become industrialized in  a chaotic and conflict breeding environment and the people here must embrace peace and live in unity to enable SADA achieve its vision of transforming its operational area,” Ms Brenda cautioned.

Other attractions in the SADA zone, Ms. Brenda pointed out include infrastructure development, a low cost of doing business compared to other parts of the country, and cheap travel to the north either by road or by air. She went to compliment the northern region for distinguishing itself in this area.

The Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive Alhaji Hanan Abdul Rahman Gundaadow on behalf of the northern regional minister assured all exhibitors of his support during their stay in Tamale.

Outlining activities for the two weeks Fair, the director of trade at the GTFC, Mr Iddrisu Abdul Majeed told Zaa News that each participating country will take over the whole sports stadium and brand it with their country paraphernalia.

A documentary portraying the beautiful culture of the people in the five SADA regions will be shown, in addition to a dialogue session on the need to co-exist peacefully, Mr Majeed stated.