Accra (Greater Accra) -- The Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) on Monday said earnings from non-traditional exports were expected to reach 500 million dollars from some 400 million dollars by the end of this year.

Mr Adu Mensah, General Manager of the GEPC, said this when he opened a five-day advanced course in export marketing for 30 exporters in Accra.

He said the Council was working in collaboration with professionals such as lawyers, architects, insurance brokers and bankers to export their services.

"Workshops have been held for these professionals to bring to bear how they could successfully package their services for the export market."

Mr Mensah said in order to enhance the supply base of local products, the GEPC through the Export Production Village Concept (EPV), is assisting producers of beads, kente, baskets at Dabala, Bonwire and Bongo respectively with technical assistance and funds from the Export Development Investment Funds (EDIF).

He said the council has throughout the year held education programmes for exporters to build their capacity to make them competitive.

Mr Mensah said the council was undertaking market survey and access facilitation for selected Ghanaian products in the sub-region, adding that this would enable exporters to "take maximum advantage of this potential and to realize full benefits of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS)".

Mr Mensah said that since packaging and labelling are major components in the export trade, GEPC is working with 12 companies to build their capacity to improve their products to meet international standards.

"It is important to recognise that the international nature of the export trade has become sophisticated and demanding that rules governing it must be thoroughly observed and properly applied."

Mr Sam Ayesu, Deputy Director in charge of training, GEPC said that participants are expected to be encouraged after the course to take part in international trade fairs, improve the packaging and costing of their products.