Accra, Aug. 10, GNA- Ghana would host the second Pan-African Competitiveness Forum (PACF), to provide the focus on innovation and the cluster- based competitiveness approach, to facilitate economic policy, macro-economic stabilisation and privatisation on the continent. The conference, scheduled for December this year, would be tailored for national and regional economic development across Africa. The Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency would sponsor the conference with support from the African Union and The Competitiveness Institute.

The event, which would take place at Elmina in the Central Region, would attract 250 participants from 23 African countries. The first conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia April last year. PACF was launched as a new continent-wide competence and action centre.

The conference, which was facilitated by the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI) of the Council and Scientific Industrial Research, would expose small-scale business enterprises to the best international practices.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, in Accra on Monday, Dr George Essegbey Director of STEPRI said the conference would champion competitiveness with value chain additions to the primary products of business.

The objective is to assist the productive sectors to add value to their products and adopt strategies that will enhance their competitiveness across Africa.

The first Pan African Competitiveness Forum, marked the beginning of learning and sharing of ideas and experience on innovation and cluster-based competitiveness.

PACF will support stakeholders from business, knowledge institutions, and government to respond more effectively to unique challenges that Africa is facing globally. The clusters to participate in the Forum include horticulture, vegetable exporters, yam exporters, furniture and jewellery manufacturers and handicraft exporters.

Dr Essegbey said PACF was poised to revive Ghanaian businesses and ensure that the entrepreneurs craft effective strategies to exploit business concepts available on the continent.

It would also promote competitiveness by rebuilding and identifying Small and Medium Enterprises promote their growth and improve the livelihoods of the people engaged in the sector. Dr Essegbey noted that the world had become a global village where distance is no longer a barrier to international trade. He said trading and services now depended on the competitiveness of countries. Dr Essegbey urged Ghanaian businesses to take advantage of the Forum to share knowledge and exhibit their produce. 10 Aug. 09