Kumasi, May 12, GNA- Mr Ishmael Ashitey, Minister of State, at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiative (PSI), has called on local manufacturers to refrain from putting foreign tags on goods produced in the country.

He said the practice does not only destroy Ghanaian market but also does not help the ministry to have the correct data for goods produced in the country.

Mr Ashitey said this on Tuesday when he visited four companies in the Kumasi metropolis as part of his four-day visit to Ashanti to inspect manufacturing companies and industries to interact with and learn from them their problems and how far they could be solved. He said putting foreign tags on goods produced in the country in spite of where the raw materials were imported from to suit the taste of consumers was a wrong marketing strategy.

Mr Ashitey said consumers know what is good and therefore what is important is the packaging, which should be done well and stressed the need for management to look into it.

The Minister was happy that young people who were doing marketing have now turned manufacturers and industrialists and have engaged more people to promote the industry.

He said the government has put in place many interventions and programmes to assist local entrepreneurs and advised that they should take advantage of them to access more funds for expansion. He visited Darko Farms, Pideck Limited, DBS Company and Britak Steel Complex.

Managements of these companies and industries urged government to support them with funds and raw materials because most industries are folding up because of financial and material constraints. 12 May 04