A total of 48 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), who are either enrolled or have graduated from SNV’s six-month GrEEn Incubation and GrEEn Acceleration Programmes, are participating in a six-day 2022 GrEEn Regional Trade Show in Takoradi.
The Trade Show, organised by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation is to showcase the products, services and inventions of green businesses in the Western Region.
The products and services from these SMEs are made using methods that do not harm the environment, are eco-friendly or make use of waste materials. The businesses are from SNV’s three sectors; namely: agriculture, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
It is on the theme: ‘Sustainable Trade Investment, the Future of the Ghanaian Economy’.
Mrs. Genivieve Parker-Twum, Senior Incubation and Acceleration Adviser of SNV Ghana, explained that this is the second edition of the GrEEn Regional Trade Show, and is intended to stimulate sharing and exchanges within the circular economy.
Also, she said it aims at showcasing and promoting green products and services to boost growth of the local economy and support sustainable start-ups and SMEs in the green sector to increase job creation.
“SNV Ghana has partnered with Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and other media houses for this trade show,” she said.
According to her, the 2022 GrEEn Regional Trade Show is part of the Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) Project being implemented by SNV Ghana and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), with funding from the European Union and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana.
Isaac Yankson, Western Regional Trade Officer under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, mentioned that the ministry is playing a collaborative role to ensure that green initiatives and technologies are applied to industrial development to help curb the menace of environmental pollution.
“It is our hope that decent and productive work in the green and circular economy for the youth, women and returning migrants is strongly sustained through collaboration with relevant ministries, departments and agencies to create the needed opportunities to help grow the economy,” he concluded.
