Ambiente trade and exhibition underway

The Annual Ambiente trade and exhibition show is providing platforms for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to gain foothold in emerging markets across the globe is underway in Frankfurt, Germany.

This year’s fair has over 4,000 exhibitors from 89 countries who have converged to market their products and services, as well as look out for strategic partnerships with other SMEs.

Among the 89 countries re five Ghanaian companies namey, Delata Ghana Limited, the company behind the famous Bolga baskets, TradeAid Integrated, Tekura, Fritete and Mitamiss Ghana, producers of straw mat baskets and ceramics.

According to the organisers, Messe Frankfurt, the changing face in global trade require that SMEs have the adequate innovation platforms that can become a driving force for their sustainability and growth.

Items ranging from artefacts, handicrafts, clothing, cooking and household goods, fashion accessories, jewelleries, interior decorations, household furniture and living room accessories among several others are being showcased at the fair.

The fair which was organised by Messe Frankfurt Limited is also providing opportunities for governmental trade promotion agencies of many countries including Nepal, Bangladesh and India, among other least developing countries to strike export trade deals with Europe.

Changing phase in global trade

The Director of Marketing and Communication at Messe Frankfurt, Mr Erdmann Kilian told the Daily Graphic on the side-lines of the fair that the changing phase in global trade required that SMEs had adequate innovation platforms that could become a driving force for their sustainability and growth.

He indicated that the Ambiente Fair was the world’s oldest and largest fair, covering a space of 367,000 metre square.

He noted that over the years, the fair had afforded many producers and marketers the opportunity to export their brands to many countries, thereby creating a global marketing avenue for many SMEs to improve the quality of their production.

According to him, the fair remained one of the biggest business-matching programmes for manufacturers and producers to connect for beneficial trade relationships.

“The consumer goods sector remains the biggest driver of the world’s economy; as such, there is the need to create linkages between industry and buyers”, he stated.

African Govts

Mr Kilian also indicated that while Messe Frankfurt was willing to invest in Africa, a lot more was dependent on African governments in the way they would foster trade with Europe.

“Presently, we have acquire a company in South Africa to drive our investment goal and further provide opportunities to Africa’s export market, but we cannot do so if local companies do not have the necessary support of their governments”, Mr Kilian stated.

The Vice President of Ambiente, Ms Nicolette Naumann aso indicated that exhibitors from African countries often depend on support measures and financial aid in order to achieve their business goals in exporting successfully their products to markets all around the world. Unfortunately, the pre-requirements for such supports she said were not always given by default.

Similarly, she stated that the logistics for bringing specimen to the fair in the first place and later exporting products to other countries were peculiar challenges many African companies including Ghanaian firms were faced with, and that she stressed could only change if African governments see the local export sector as a viable economic industry worth investing into.

“We can only provide platforms for SMEs to break into the European market, however, their local governments would have to redefine their financing by assisting these exporters so they can also create opportunities for employment”, Ms Naumann stressed.

 Writer’s email: della.russel@graphic.com.gh