Last weekend’s GUBA Expo 2014, which showcased Ghanaian-made products in South East London, was declared a success and an opening that would allow more trade and economic opportunities for Ghana in the UK.

“There are a range of impressive investment opportunities in Ghana and the Made in Ghana products on offer today are just a sample of what we have to offer as a people. I urge everyone to invest and support Made in Ghana products,” Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofusu-Agyare, said at the two-day event.

The GUBA Expo, backed by the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards, a non-profit awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of Ghanaians living in Britain, connected Ghanaian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with UK company buyers with the aim of increasing Ghanaian products in the British market, which imports £250 million worth of Ghanaian goods annually.

In the other direction, the UK exports £580 million worth of goods each year to Ghana, with this figure projected to double by the end of 2015.

Ghana is the UK’s third largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

In a message to the Expo, the Ghanaian High Commissioner in London, Mr. Victor Smith, expressed support for the event and spoke of the necessity of strengthening trade relations between Ghana and the UK.

Ms Dentaa Amoateng, CEO of GUBA, said the main aim of the Expo was to directly connect SMEs to distributors.

“The GUBA Expo met my expectations because it was a great opportunity for the SMEs to speak to the buyers and get valuable tips on how to market their businesses and utilise social media,” she said.

“The seminars on day one were very informative and the SMEs have expressed how educational they were and the number of tips they will be implementing in their businesses.”

She added that there was also “a great possibility” that some of the products on display would be making their way into Tesco, the number one supermarket in the UK, which has been increasingly stocking African food and beverages.

The Mayor of Greenwich, the borough in which the Expo was held, Mr. David Grant, said he was impressed with the products.

“There are so many unique and vibrant products. I am especially impressed by their affordability,” he said.

GUBA Project Manager said the Expo “will mark the beginning of opening exciting new doors of trade and economic opportunity for Ghana and the UK.”

The first day of the expo targeted established Ghanaian-owned SMEs and start-ups, with workshops and discussions by well-established UK companies documenting how they overcame obstacles to make their brands successful.

Speakers from various professional backgrounds also advised participants on diverse topics relating to growing their businesses.

Buyers from a number of companies were at the Expo, giving exhibitors the opportunity of pitching their product to representatives such as Scott Burrell of Tesco, who said was very impressed with the products on show.

The Expo organisers said that on the whole, over the course of the two days, the theme was clear: “SMEs have fantastic products to offer, that will have a positive impact on the Ghanaian economy. All that is needed is for the gap between production and distribution to be closed.”