Kumasi, July 24, GNA - Mr Lawrence Prempeh, General Manger of the Ghana Export Promotion Council, has said mainstream gift and home d=E9cor furnishing products were not attracting higher prices. He said it was against this backdrop that the council had embarked on uniqueness, originality of designs and materials in product development and branding as a way to promote higher end product line to attract higher prices.

Mr Prempeh was speaking at the close of a day's seminar and workshop organized jointly by the council and the Trade Facilitation Office of Canada (TFOC) in Kumasi on Monday.

The course that over 30 handicraft groups and firms in the region involved in home d=E9cor and accessories attended was to prepare them towards their participation in May 2008 edition of the Montreal SIDIM Interior Design Show in Canada.

The seminar and the workshop presented trends in the North America market, branding and new product development. It selected companies to participate in the Design Africa 2008 programme.

The facilitators of the course assisted with the selection of the best products that included woodcarving, ceramics, brass works, Kente and Adinkra cloths for development to ensure conformity with market needs.

The facilitators advised on packaging, labelling and export pricing.

Mr Prempeh said the non-traditional export sector had witnessed growth in the last five years due to pragmatic policies and programmes by the GEPC. Earnings from the non-traditional exports increased from 460 million dollars in 2001 to 893 million dollars in 2006, a growth of 94 per cent.

Mr Prempeh said the Council had projected that the sector would earn over one billion dollars in 2008. Ms Kathleen Holland, a consultant of TFOC, urged the participants to take interest in raw materials that are environmentally friendly.