Locally produced goods and services in the Ashanti region will soon get international recognition as Made in Africa Investment Limited, a produce marketing company, concludes arrangements to enlist them on a website. Chief Executive Officer of Made in Africa, Emmanuel Mbigbo says the website would be opened for the local manufacturers to boost their potentials for international trade. The company is partnering the Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI) to expand the benefit of ICT adaptation to informal business operators with export potentials. Mr. Mbigbo told Luv FM the Ashanti region was chosen as the company’s first point of call in Ghana because of the ingenuity of artisans and other small scale manufacturers in the region. According to him, the internet portal will provide a platform for the SME’s to host their products and service, with the aim of “taking SMEs to the next level where we can compete with other products that come from every part of the world; considering also that we have things that can compete based on comparative cost advantage”. As a first step, the company is organizing a series of workshops to increase awareness on ICT in business. The target groups would also be trained in basic business management to increase productivity. Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ASSI, Kwame Buor says it has become crucial for the sector to deepen interest in the application of ICT for business networking and marketing. He is confident the new concept will help local producers to be assertive in the use of technology for business growth. Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv FM/Ghana