Tema, July 14, GNA- Entrepreneurs in the country have been urged to adopt effective marketing strategies, to enable them to compete effectively on the local and international markets to ensure the survival of their ventures.

Mr Kwadwo Asiedu Affram, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, who made the call on Wednesday, noted that even though marketing techniques, were important in today's competitive market, most local entrepreneurs underrated those plans.

The Deputy Minister was speaking at a day's seminar on, "Strategies for doing business in current highly competitive situation", organised by the Tema Regional branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the city.

Mr Affram urged entrepreneurs to facilitate efforts by the government to improve the educational system aimed at training competent personnel to man the economy.

He, therefore, asked them to invest in human resource development so that they could meet the demands of the markets.

Mr Affram said the launching of the Ghana trade policy by the sector Ministry, was aimed at reforming the industrial sector. Mr N.S.K. Appiah, a senior lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, advised entrepreneurs to improve on their operations and plans towards increased productivity. Mr David Quaye Annang, Tema Municipal Chief Executive, pledged that the Tema Municipal Assembly would promote business by ensuring high environmental sanitation standards.

He appealed to entrepreneurs to pay their taxes promptly to enable the government to generate more funds for the development of the country. Mr Abam Quartey, National President of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, expressed worry about the disregard for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) policy that allowed members states to export products to any country in the sub-region, by some member states. He said the situation was affecting production of some local industries, and called on such countries to reconsider their decision, to promote economic integration of the sub-region. Mr Quartey urged Ghanaian entrepreneurs to update their knowledge and skills to enable them to compete in the international market.