Accra, March 29, GNA - The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) on Wednesday organised a familiarisation tour of some small and medium-scale industries for journalists as part of a three-day programme to expose them to the activities of the Ministry and institutions that fall under it.

The visit took about 20 journalists from both the print and electronic media to the Expandable Polystyrene Products Limited and Unique Furnishing Company Limited.

The former specialises in the production and export of packaging materials such as fishing tools, ceiling slates, ice chest and ampoule boxes for pharmaceuticals while the latter solely exports wood products.

The journalists also visited Gem Afrik, a textiles and garment producing firm, and Accra Brewery Limited (ABL). Mrs Elizabeth Obeng, Public Relations Director of the MOTI, said the visit was to enable the journalists to have an insight into efforts being made to promote the export of products in which Ghana has an advantage.

She said most of the goods produced and exported are on a large-scale and highly competitive. As part of government's policy on trade and industry, the Ministry is now concentrating on promoting the activities of small and medium-scale enterprises.

As a result, some small-scale industries have been grouped into clusters of wood and wood products, packaging, food processing, and textiles and garments. Some of the companies have, through the efforts of the government, obtained credit facilities and training from the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI), EMPRETEC and the British Department for International Development (DFID).

Expandable Polystyrene Products Limited, obtained credit facility from the Export and Import Bank (Exim) for expansion purposes With the exception of ABL, the other companies complained of the effects of the depreciation of the cedi, which makes it difficult to import raw materials.

For instance, Expandable Polystyrene imports residue of petroleum products as raw material for production of boxes from Germany and England and has to convert the cedi into hard currency.

Mr Stephen Atuliba, Public Relations Officer of NBSSI, said the Board is assisting such industries to set up a secretariat where they can form a network and assist each other in accessing information and materials for production.