SADA to host 2016 Ghana International Trade Fair in Tamale

The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) has concluded an arrangement with the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited to host the 20th edition of Ghana International Trade Fair in Tamale.

This was the outcome of a series of meetings held between the two organisations in Accra and Tamale.

Addressing participants at the opening of a two-day Planning Committees Workshop in Tamale for the forthcoming 20th Ghana International Trade Fair scheduled to take place at the Tamale Sports Stadium from February 25 – March 7, 2016, the Chief Executive Officer of SADA, Mr. Charles Abugre expressed delight at progress of work.

The planning workshop was attended by participants, from Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ghana Police Service, Northern Regional Coordinating Council, the Centre for National Culture, Ghana Trade Fair Company and SADA.

The fair on the theme “Two Decades of International Trade Fairs in Ghana: Exploring Business Opportunities in the SADA Zone of Ghana”, seek to harness the vast investment potentials in the Savannah Ecological Zone.

The investment potentials include iron ore, lime deposits and other minerals and raw materials, emerging market potentials for manufacturing, distributors, agents, exporters and importers of both domestic and industrial products and services.

Mr. Abugre said as part of the planned arrangement for the fair, “We would be inviting prominent paramount chiefs from our neighbouring countries to deepen our cultural linkages, promote peace and open up our countries for cross border trade.”

According to Mr. Abugre “when the International Airport is completed, travel time amongst ECOWAS countries will be within two hours, (and) this will further promote businesses in the SADA zone.

He expressed great appreciation to the Board and Management of Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited for deciding to organise the fair in Tamale, adding that the journey to open up the Northern half of Ghana was a laudable one.

Mr. Abugre made a passionate appeal to Ghanaians especially the people of the SADA zone, agencies, departments and stakeholders to not only participate but support the event, stressing that the fair offers a unique opportunity to map, organise and present investment opportunities to the global investment community to explore in that part of the country.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, Dr. Erasmus Ebenezer Okpoti Koney said since the establishment of the Ghana Trade Fair in the 1960s his organisation has never organised The Ghana International Fair outside the shores of Accra.

He revealed the move to organise the fair in Tamale is strictly in line with the company’s re-branding drive, which is to ensure that exhibitions and for that matter International fairs are brought to the doorsteps of all the regions in Ghana.

Dr. Koney posited that this initiative hinges on two core values; first the identification of Trade and Investment potentials in the host region, and then secondly, a strategic partner to collaborate in order that the fair could be effectively and successfully executed.

“Early part of this year SADA successfully organised an Investment forum in Tamale, dubbed SADA Business and Investment Forum 2015 (SABIF 2015) and this absolutely fits into our core mandate as market leaders in the exhibition industry”, Dr. Koney stressed.

He equally expressed delight with the arrangement as far as the fair is concerned, and that with the wealth of experience and resources these two agencies are pulling together, the fair would leave an everlasting impact on exhibitors and all stakeholders.