International exhibition company, Afrocet Montgomery, has hosted over 2,500 packaging, processing, plastics and printing exhibitors and industry players at its 3-day exhibition and conference to provide insight, knowledge and thought leadership on the trends and relevant topics.
Propak Ghana, the exhibition, held in Accra, provided a platform for suppliers
and service providers to display cutting-edge products and service offerings,
showcasing the latest technology, bring new companies to Ghana for the first
time, act as a unique platform for those more established, and ultimately help
drive the manufactural industry forward.
To address the continent’s fast-developing manufacturing sector, the event
hosted 50 speakers delivering sessions on circular economy, sustainability,
financing options for SMEs, latest trends in print and packaging technology,
and many other insightful and informative sessions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, George Pearson, Regional Director
– West Africa, at Afrocet Montgomery said “Our objective is to establish Propak
as a key support platform for Ghana’s aspirations to increase output of ‘the
made in Ghana brand’ and boost its exports in the region and beyond. Currently,
Ghana is exporting a high percentage of its naturally-produced products in the
raw state, and there is no doubt that value addition can help the country
maximize revenue from its exports”.
“This approach can ensure Ghana’s plan at transforming its economy from one heavily
reliant on natural resources, to a true value-added exports-led economy. This
strategy cannot be a reality without investment in manufacturing, increasing
the use of state-of-the-art equipment and machinery, as well as human capital,
since these are key ingredients in ensuring greater efficiency and
effectiveness in manufacturing”, he added.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Investment Promotion
Centre (GIPC), Yaw Amoateng Afriyie noted the exhibition is timely
for Ghana’s export and import ecosystem.
“This exhibition is timely, especially as we collectively summon the courage to
do things differently and challenge antiquated dogmas that we must rely
predominantly on imported brands and packaging - and that our homegrown brands
are inferior or costly”.
“Again, exports remain vital to the manufacturing sector, allowing businesses
to expand their reach at home and abroad, which improves our balance of
payments, skilled labour, and foreign exchange. GIPC is committed to working
with companies like the Montgomery Group and others here to attract a blend of
financing options, e.g., equity, debt, and mezzanine, that will leapfrog Ghana
to operate at the higher ends of the packaging value chain to be able to
compete at home and into the global market”, he mentioned.
On his part Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Export Promotion
Authority (GEPA), Mr. Albert Kassim Diwura,was confident that the conference
will be a catalyst for transformative change and open new doors of opportunity
for Ghana’s packaging, processing, and printing sectors, and aim for a future
where Ghana stands tall as a hub of excellence in packaging.
To round off George Pearson shared his thanks to their headline sponsors,
Mohinani Group, and headline partners AGI as well as other sponsors Jaykay
Global, Neofyton, Engel, Fujairah Plastics and Tetrapak and welcome all to join
them next year at the end of April for the second instalment of the only
exhibition in Ghana for the packaging, plastics, processing industries.
Source:
Peacefmonline.com