The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has welcomed plans by the government to establish the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) Fund and waive import duties on some raw materials as announced in the 2014 budget.
However, the association cautioned that such policies will amount to naught if left unimplemented.
It has, therefore, shelved its excitement towards the budget and the policy interventions announced for businesses, explaining that it would rather wait to see what becomes of those plans in the months ahead.
National President of the AGI, Nana Owusu Afari, and the Vice President in-charge of the small and medium scale enterprise (SME) sector, Mr Samuel Appenteng, told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS that some of the proposals that excited industry included the establishment of an SME Fund, the waiver of taxes and import duties on raw materials for the printing and pharmaceutical sectors and the organisation of solo exhibitions for businesses to expose the
An independent awards committee selects companies to receive awards for various sub-sectors of the economy. In addition to the coveted 'Overall Best Industrial Company of the Year, the AGI also gives special awards to companies in the following categories: Best Company Employer, Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Company, Young Enterprise of the Year, Fastest Growing Company and Best Practices in Sustainable Manufacturing Company.,
Dairy food maker, Fan Milk Ghana Limited (FML), retained the Overall Best Industrial Company of the year, after beating brewing giant, Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited.
The company, which employs over 15,000 people in its operations, retained the award it won last year due to what its Human Resource and Public Relations Manager, Mr Jonathan Ocansey, said was as a result of continuous strive by Fan Milk to standardise its operations.
The Fastest Growing Company and Young Enterprise of the Year awards went to Wilkins Engineering Ghana Limited and Horseman Shoes Limited, respectively.