Business News of Monday, 24 November 2003

Source: gna

AGI proposes institution of Made in Ghana Day

The Association of Ghana Industries has proposed the institution of a "Made in Ghana Day" to promote Ghanaian products and revolutionalise the country's industrial production.

The event to be marked on February 14 each year, would urge Ghanaians to exchange only Made in Ghana goods as gifts on that day.

The AGI proposed a working committee, made up of members from government and the business sector to determine the modalities for such a national day.

This was announced when the AGI met members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiative (PSI) and Finance on Friday as part of its weeklong celebrations on the theme: "The Implications of International Trade Negotiations for Ghana's Industrial Development."

Mrs Elizabeth Joyce Villars, President of the Association, said the high and sustained demand for locally produced goods for some countries, which today had become industrial giants, at the early stages of their development had enable them to improve their efficiency and to become competitive in the international arena.

However, similar attempts to promote Ghanaian products and help create such a context for the country's industrial revolution had met with little success, such as the recent efforts to get public officials to wear traditional attire on Fridays.

"We believe that a broader and more determined effort that goes beyond traditional attire is required," she said.

She said the Association would work with government, the media and events organizers to ensure that the day when instituted became a success.