Trade Facilitation
Introduction
The MSME Project is supporting the creation and expansion of an integrated trade facilitation infrastructure based on online proactive databases and interactive trade information systems to be accessed and used by service providers involved in trade promotion, active sales and marketing, and handholding of MSMEs for product development and adaptation, including compliance to standards and investment promotion. There are four sub-components under the Trade Facilitation Component.
Proactive Trade Information System & SME Database
The MSME Project is supporting the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) to develop a Proactive Trade Information System (PTIS) and an SME Database. The PTIS will be an online portal with information on Ghanaian businesses, trade protocols, trade demands and other information that will help MSMEs in Ghana to access expanded markets in and out of the country via the internet. The SME Database will be an online database of MSMEs in Ghana, including a brief description of their businesses and contact information. This will – among other uses – provide policy makers with up-to-date information on MSMEs for policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation.
At the moment, a firm has been contracted to develop the online portal, and this online portal should be ready for use by the end of September 2011.
Enhancing Export Promotion
Under this sub-component, the MSME Project is supporting the Ghana Export Promotion Centre (GEPC) to develop new and updated modules for use in the Export Training School, and to conduct a gap analysis of the Processed Foods industry in order to implement interventions to make the sector more viable.
Export Training Modules
At the moment, the new modules have been developed and a team of trainers have been trained on the use of the modules. Down-stream training will be organized for various groups of exporters in the near future.
Processed Foods
Research has been conducted on fifty (50) selected food processing companies and the data gathered is being analysed. The next step under this sub-component is to design interventions that would improve general business in the processed foods industry.
Support to Tourism
The Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) received funding under this component to conduct a needs analysis on six (6) selected craft villages in the country. The study identified the key challenges facing these craft villages and made recommendations for their enhancement. The study will serve as an input into future interventions to improve the craft villages.
National Export Strategy
The MSME Project is providing funding for the development of a strategic document to guide the export of made-in-Ghana products. The National Export Strategy documents will identify the potential for the various products and make recommendations for the areas to focus on.