UK Trade Partnership Boosts Women in Ghanan Agribusiness

The United Kingdom Trade Partnership Project, executed by the International Trade Centre, celebrated the success of its inaugural Market Place Forum at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. The National Project Coordinator, Theresah Ayesu, praised the event's success, which focused on assisting female cocoa processors and chocolatiers in creating export-ready goods for the EU and UK markets.

The forum, which was intended to help four women, far exceeded expectations, with almost 40 attendees from the agricultural industry. Speaking to reporters, Ayesu emphasized the "extremely successful" participation in panel sessions. Despite her accomplishments, she admitted to a considerable financial issue during due diligence.

The Investor Marketplace Forum, a finance-focused initiative, brought together female entrepreneurs and financial and non-financial entities. Ayesu emphasized the importance of overcoming the financial barrier, saying, "We felt it will be a good thing or a step in the right direction if we put this together."

This ground-breaking program, undertaken by the International Trade Centre in cooperation with the Innohub Foundation as part of the UK Trade Partnership project, aims to empower and elevate women entrepreneurs in Ghana. The event was designed to provide a forum for ambitious women-owned and women-led enterprises to seek investment and finance.

The UK Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme, a crucial component of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office's Trade Centre of Expertise, focuses on increasing trade from developing nations to the UK and EU. The UKTP Programme in Ghana helps women-led enterprises improve their competitiveness, resilience, and access to funding. Through strategic collaborations and contacts, the Investor Marketplace Forum is a crucial step in accelerating the development of Women-Led/Owned Businesses in the Agribusiness sector.