TAMALE HOSTS 2ND NORTHERN BUSINESS FAIR (PAGE 23, SEPT 2, 2010)

PREPARATIONS are underway to stage the second edition of the Northern Business and Investment Fair, which will take place in Tamale between November 16 and 20 this year.
The fair, which was introduced last year, creates a platform for players in the business industry to showcase their services and products to potential customers and clients.
It is particularly of immense benefit to companies operating in the north as it enables them to reach their target audience and explore other opportunities.
The 2010 fair is expected to bring together various business groups, such as potential investors, small and medium scale enterprises, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), manufacturing companies, agro-processing enterprises and government institutions.
It is also expected to attract potential customers, individuals and groups that are seeking business partners and the general public.
The fair is the brainchild of the Business & Financial Times (BFT) newspaper and is held with support from other partners.
Briefing the media on the forthcoming event, the Events and Communications Manager of BFT, Mr Frederick Augustt noted that this year’s event would be an expanded and improved version over that of the first edition.
“We are working to ensure that district assemblies also get the space to mount exhibition stands and showcase the numerous investment opportunities available in their respective areas,” he stated.
“We also want to afford other government institutions the opportunity to interact with the general public and inform and educate them about their functions and services,” he added.
Mr Augustt observed that even though Ghana is fast becoming a preferred destination for most investors, the northern sector was reaping very little of these investments, in spite of its potentials.
“It is due to this reason that we introduced the fair to attract investors to the north to have firsthand information about the potentials of the north and how best they could take advantage,” he explained.
“The fair is also aimed at creating an opportunity for the various businesses in the north to interact, network and inter-trade so as to reach business deals and partnerships that would help in expanding their businesses,” Mr Augustt further mentioned.
He said in addition to all that, the fair would provide the platform for participating companies and institutions to receive valuable feedback from their potential and existing clients so as to help them reposition themselves appropriately to serve their clients.
He, therefore, encouraged all potential exhibitors to take full advantage of the fair and reap maximum benefits.