The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), European Union (EU) and Ministry of Trade and Industries (MOTI) have organised the 3^rd Cluster International Conference in Ghana on Wednesday in Accra to strengthen cluster inclusiveness for Small and Medium scaled Enterprises (SMEs).

The conference, provided the platform to discuss and share sustainable solutions and innovations targeted at boosting industrial competitiveness for Ghanaian entrepreneurs in cassava, fruits and cosmetics sectors.

In a speech read on behalf of K.T. Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry, by the Chief Director, Patrick Yaw Nimo, reiterated how the Government of Ghana’s collaboration with UNIDO on trade, industrialisation, and private sector development has resulted in enhancing the growth and competitiveness of Ghanaian SMEs.

He added that “UNIDO and EU support under WACOMP has strengthened capacities in the cassava, fruits and cosmetics export value-chains and the One District One Factory increasing job creation.”

Over 200 participants comprising SMEs supported by the EU-funded West African Competitiveness Program (WACOMP)  implemented by  UNIDO and MoTI and delegations from ECOWAS, Liberia, Nigeria, and Austria strengthened connections to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Stavros Papastavrou, UNIDO Officer in Charge of Ghana and Liberia noted the strong cooperation between UNIDO and the Government of Ghana citing the joint commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He highlighted UNIDO’s support to SMEs' competitiveness and collective efficiency, agribusinesses, skills development, renewable energy, Kaizen expansion and quality which are all geared to enhance value addition, sustainable production and access to regional and global markets.

Malgorzata Pitura from the Macro-Economic and Trade Section of the European Delegation to Ghana said WACOMP - Ghana is one of the flagship programmes of the EU  “Supporting SMEs to facilitate SMEs integration in regional and international markets proves to be a strategic approach to  ensure that Ghana actively participates in the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement”.

Ebe Muschialli, UNIDO Industrial Development Expert and WACOMP- Ghana Project Manager shared excitement about the progressive success of UNIDO-supported SMES under the WACOMP.

“Many of these entrepreneurs have evolved from struggling to comply with market requirements to be part of Ghanaian delegations in international markets. Their products have improved, the value-added locally has increased and the packaging and branding have become much more attractive. All this with a strong impact on the local communities in terms of job creation and women's economic empowerment”.

Dr.  Charles Kwame Sackey, Chief Technical Advisor of WACOMP-Ghana commended the various clusters whose products have drastically improved over the past five years.

He recounted how many SMEs struggled to implement basic Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) at the beginning and how now, thanks to WACOMP’s support, most of the SMEs have become competitive in both the national and the international markets.