Kumasi, July 29, GNA - Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem, Omanhene of Tepa Traditional Area, has encouraged Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to form partnerships to enable them to access bank credit to expand their businesses.

Such partnerships would also help them to share knowledge and expertise to add value to their products.

He said by doing this they would become more competitive on the international market.

Nana Atwenewaa Ampem was opening the second in the series of arts and crafts exhibition/bazaar at the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Kumasi.

Forty (40) exhibitors are taking part in the week-long event being held under the auspices of the CNC.

The Omanhene said there was the need to give support to such exhibitions since they created the avenue for the craftsmen to market their products to tourists and investors to bring in foreign exchange.

Added to this, is also the opportunity to showcase "our unique cultural identity as a people through paintings, drawings and sculptures," he said.

Nana Ampem commended the CNC for organizing the programme.

Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, praised the exhibitors for their creativity and asked that they strived to add more value to their products.

Mr Samuel Francis Adjei, Director of CNC, called on the youth to take pride in the nation's rich cultural heritage.