The government is to launch two new initiatives in the oil palm and salt industries under the President?s Special Initiative (PSI). This will bring to four the number of Special Presidential Initiatives. The first two initiatives are on industrial starch production and textile and garments. President J. A. Kufuor announced plans to launch the two new initiatives at the 13th National Awards for Exports Achievement being organised by the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC).

The awards are to recognise and honour the achievements of exporters in the non-traditional exports in three categories namely agriculture, handicraft and manufacturing who distinguished themselves by exporting quality products in 2001.

The Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) was, for the second time in two years, adjudged the exporter of the year for exporting cocoa liquor, butter, cake and powder to the tune of more than $18 million. 42 others companies also receive awards

President Kufuor said the launching of the two initiatives will ensure that the country maximises the use of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) visa status it has gained.

Additionally, it will also ensure that the country penetrates the ECOWAS market. The President expressed the need for the country to put a premium on her human resource development to make her competitive on the global market.

The President said without exporters, the country cannot be an effective participant on the global market. He called for the development of Information Technology (IT) in the country and stressed that ? it has shown abundantly clear that it is, perhaps, the fastest way to multiply the quickest returns to the economy?.

?Government has a responsibility to ensure macro-economic stability by pursuing prudent economic and fiscal policies?. President Kufuor again called for the diversification in the agricultural and industrial sectors to broaden the base of the economy.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Abu-Bakar Saddique Bonniface, said new approaches encompassing in-depth market studies and strategies and market access programmes are being implemented by the GEPC to facilitate the trading activities of Ghanaian companies within the ECOWAS sub-region.

He said it is imperative that ?we expand the nation?s export programme to generate adequate resources so as to make meaninful progress in improving living standards of the people?.

?This calls for the creation of a critical mass of exporters with an enhanced capacity to meet international market requirements?, the Deputy Minister said.

He said programmes have been instituted at both the ministerial level and the implementing agencies under the Ghana Investment Fund (GIF) to assist Ghanaian companies in the export sector to take advantage of opportunities under the AGOA initiative.

The Executive Secretary of the GEPC, Mr Edward Collins Boateng, said the council will establish the Ghana Trade Information System to collect and dissseminate trade information at the national level.

He said the overall objective is to upgrade the trade information services of GEPC linked to the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Federation of the Association of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE).