The Institute of Export (IOE) and International Trade, a United Kingdom (UK) established organisation, has announced entry into the Ghanaian territory to drive professional skills acquisition in international trade to boost the country’s human resources potential for global trade markets.
The IOE, which is well-known globally for providing the platform for individuals and organisations to acquire new skills, knowledge and qualification to navigate international trade, has docked its ship in the country to boost the country’s potential as a beacon of Africa to thrive in cross-border trade on the continent and beyond.
Director-General of IOE Marco Forgione, who announced the presence of the institute in Accra, mentioned that the institute seeks to partner with various public universities to unearth professionals in international trade through knowledge transfer, capacity-building and training programmes.
He acknowledged the smart budding tech-savvy population with high aspirations and vast entrepreneurship talents that exists in Ghana as the key element that could be leveraged for dominance in international trade.
“We are in collaborative discussions with universities in Ghana to develop talent and provide the right skills for international trade navigation. We pave the way for businesses to import and export successfully across borders, or for individuals to grow their careers and become trade experts. With courses starting from entry-level to masters, we ensure professionals grasp the understanding of key trade and customs processes and acquire practical skills to help individuals and organisations to trade compliantly and with confidence.”
In an era of digitalisation, the IOE is well-positioned to aid students of international trade and entrepreneurs alike in learning how to handle international trade documents in digital form and gain a comprehensive understanding of how to maximise their benefits from going digital.
With membership in all continents across the globe, students who enrol in their programmes stand a chance to gain practical on-field and internship opportunities to acquire knowledge from different markets.
Touching on the country’s prospects on the continent and ability to become a key global player in trade, he said: “Ghana is uniquely positioned not because of the geography or the stable environment, but the aspiration and entrepreneurship that exists in Ghana. So, the Institute of Exports is here to help turn what is potential into reality within the context of Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Ghana can become the spark that ignites what the African continent can achieve”, he added.
The IOE career development training
The IOE provides formal qualifications from level two to level seven, thus entry level through to masters degree level as well as short course training and policy advice.
The institute seeks to collaborate with universities in Ghana for joint programmes that equip students with the requisite skills while also fostering partnerships with state agencies, such as the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), to provide entrepreneurs with practical ideas for opportunities provided by international trade and navigating international customs challenges.
The IOE, as a professional entity for certifications of international trade experts, boasts rich, experienced experts providing both offline and online courses or e-training packages for individuals to learn in their own time.
With a suite of training courses suitable for individuals at the start or in the middle of their international trade journey, professionals can explore various topics surrounding trade, including logistics, custom clearance, border target operating model and exporting practices.
Organisations seeking to train teams or would prefer in-person training can also access bespoke training courses that fit their schedule and preferences.
