A Ghanaian cosmetic manufacturer, JRA Cosmetics is putting in place the necessary impetus to take advantage of the 1.2 billion market presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Already,
the company into the production of skin care, hair care and disinfectants had
invested more than GH¢2 million in technical infrastructure and state of the
art technology to support its production line.
It has also established
a dedicated desk on AfCFTA to help the company strategise for the market.
The Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of JRA Cosmetics, Jane Reason Ahadzie, made this known in an
interview with the media after receiving two awards at the sixth Global
Business Quality Awards and Summit held in Accra.
“We are currently
waiting to see the AfCFTA come to realisation so we can join in and contribute
to the efforts of Africa being its own producer and supplier of cosmetics and
household detergents,” she said.
She added: “It is our
belief that we can reduce the huge funding of the government in the importation
of consumer goods in the country, a situation that is affecting our Ghanaian
cedi and bringing economic hardship on the locals.”
The award
The company’s two
products received prestigious awards at the Global Business Quality Awards and
Summit.
The JRA Bone to Bone
Balm was adjudged as the Best Quality Indigenous Herbal Healing Ointment of the
Year while the JRA Lion Antiseptic was named the Best Quality Antiseptic Brand
of the Year.
It is an annual event of
the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana that gives recognition to individuals and
companies – local and foreign – operating in Ghana for their commitments to
improving the quality delivery of goods and services and open to innovation and
cutting-edge technologies that adds value to their products and services.
Ms Ahadzie stated that
the recognition was a strong affirmation to its quest to bridge the gap in the
supply of quality and affordable healthcare, skincare and household detergents
over the years.
“As a leading local
cosmetic manufacturing firm and one of a few in the West African sub region,
this award comes to us as a great honour done us and an affirmation to our continues
believe in our efforts to bridge the gap in the supply of very quality but
affordable healthcare, household detergents and skin care products for our
cherished consumers,” she said.
Explore existing opportunities
In a speech read on her
behalf, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley
Ayorkor-Botchway, said there was the need for local manufacturers and producers
to explore existing opportunities in the single continental market.
According to the
minister, the government is poised to empower the private sector to export to
other African countries underpinned by its national action plan for boosting
intra African trade and the national export development strategy.
She commended the
organisers of the awards for recognising and rewarding the efforts of
businesses that were committed to building quality and lasting brands.
“It is refreshing to
know that these companies, irrespective of the strides they make, get to be
acknowledged and celebrated for being able to keep their heads above these
global waters,” she noted.
Source: Graphic Online