Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - The Ghana International Trade Company (GITC) on Thursday night launched the 11th Ghana International Trade Fair dubbed "The Golden Jubilee Fair" aimed primary to showcase Ghana's achievements at 50 years in trade, industry and technological advancement. The fair, which is expected to attract more than one million local and international visitors and scheduled for February 23 to March 8, 2007 would broadly be under the theme: "Championing the African Excellence."

The Sub theme of the fair expected to also attract about 2,000 local and foreign exhibitors is: "50 years of harnessing Ghana's Trade and Industrial Opportunities."

It would in line with Ghana's development priorities, place special emphasis on local products and services in sectors such as agriculture and food production; building and construction; industrial and production machinery; oil and petro-chemical; mining and energy; transport; telecommunication; scientific and technological breakthroughs and banking and finance.

Mr Peter Osei Duah, Managing Director of the State Insurance Company, said the theme offered an enviable opportunity to Ghanaian businesses to take stock of what have been achieved through trade and economic development for the country.

He said the realisation of such a dream would not only depend on the Government but largely on private entrepreneurs, who held the key to Ghana's trade and economic transformation. Mr Duah appealed to resident diplomats to see the golden jubilee fair as an economic and business opportunity to invite their home governments and other economic operators and investors to participate in.

He said diversifying the country's export-base through increasing the non-traditional export products was imperative to achieving Ghana's aim of attaining the middle-income status by 2012 and becoming a leading agro-industrial country.

"It is, therefore, necessary that every effort should be made by all Ghanaians both industrialists, businessmen and exporters to tap these numerous trade and industrial potential, which are available for exports," he said.

Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, President of the Association of Ghana Industries, who chaired launch, described the fair as one of the major and important events that would make the celebration of Ghana's golden jubilee successful and memorable.

He said the fair, which would see the greatest collaboration between stakeholders would bring into focus all previous major fairs including GIFEX, a Wood and Furniture Exhibition. Ms Esther Ofori, Chief Executive of GTFC, said 2007 would be the 40th anniversary since the institution of trade fairs in Ghana at the centre. She said through an effective collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat as well as other institutions, the golden jubilee fair would be one that Ghanaians and the world would be proud of.