Tunisia’s recent entry into the force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its membership of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will boost continental trade and advance trade between Ghana and Tunisia.
It is in this context that the Tunisian Export Promotion Center (CEPEX) and the PEMAII project (Promotion of Export Activities to New Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa) implemented by GIZ Tunisia, mandated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), worked to set up B2B meetings between Tunisian and Ghanaian companies to encourage and promote trade and exports between them.
This exploratory meeting was carried out through the support of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana which laid the ground for the mission that took place from May 16-19, 2023 in Accra with the objective to introduce 16 Tunisian companies – including 5 economic interest groups – to relevant business partners in the Ghanaian market.
The business mission targeted mainly four (4) sectors; namely: agribusiness, construction, services, and information and communication technology as well as handicrafts. The delegation for Ghana was made up 16 companies covering these four sectors to strike win-win partnerships with their Tunisian counterparts.
Exchanges between the two countries began in 2022 when a Tunisian delegation met with key economic actors in the country – including the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA), Ghana Free Zones Authority, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the AfCFTA Secretariat, and the delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK), among others.
The 2030 mission took place over 4 days from Tuesday, 16th to 19th May; and the opening took place at the Kempinski Hotel. At the end of the visit, the Tunisian companies within agro-food, construction, services and IC and handicraft as well as the cosmetic sector had a total of about 80 business meetings with Ghanaian companies and institutions.
The CEO of CEPEX, Mourad Ben Hassine, said it is important for the parties to know one another, and if one is considering trade, it is important to undertake such trade missions to meet potential business partners and strike up business relationships; and that underscored the Tunisian delegation’s visit to Ghana.
He cited the success of the European Union, and indicated that if Africa intends to reap the benefits of trade as intended by the creation of AfCFTA, then it is important for trade missions to undertake such business trips to ascertain the potential market and plan toward engagement.
He said it was a huge opportunity and if the SMEs get a chance to meet like the B2B meeting set up, then it will put them in a good stead to reap the enormous opportunities.
The GIZ representative in Tunis, Lisa Menucha, said in view of AfCFTA which has come on board, it presents a huge opportunity for intra-African trade; and GIZ, which has also created an AfCFTA desk, thought it prudent to bring 16 Tunisian companies across all sectors to partner with Ghanaian companies, seeking to establish business links.
