CDP and its partners launched third edition of Northern Trade, Industrial and Investment Summit

Centre for Policy Development (CPD) and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, in partnership with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana Enterprise Agency, Ghana Exim Bank, Ghana Free Zone Authority, University for Development Studies (UDS) and the Northern Development Authority (NDA), has on Wednesday April 10, 2025, launched the third edition of Northern Trade, Industrial and Investment Summit.

The summit seeks to create a platform that will bring businesses together in a bid to develop their capacity in the various sectors of trade and industry in the region.

This year’s summit dubbed, “Enhancing Trade and Industry Growth Through Strategic Investment and Accelerated Export.”

In his welcome remarks, the Executive Director of Centre for Policy Development (CPD), Ismail Yahuza, highlighted that this year’s summit would include conference and seminars, a grand durbar to kick start the summit, trade and exhibition fair and awards night.

According to him, the Northern part of Ghana is lacking behind in terms of production of key commodities, export commodities, so far as the national output is concern hence there’s the need for this annual Northern Trade and Investment Summit.

He thus called on stakeholders in the Northern Region to support the organizers to ensure a successful summit as it has a potential of closing the gap between the North and the South.

In his keynote address, the Deputy Executive Officer of the GEPA, Raymond Rashid Krama, noted GEPA’S mandate which is to develop and promote Ghana’s exports, empowers the organization to implement programmes and activities that promote the export sector and help in generating not only export revenues but also providing the much-needed exposure to export oriented companies.

“This is one of the main reasons why we are aligned with all our partners herein gathered to continue to showcase the investment and export potential of the Northern Regions through this important summit”, he stated.

He said the Northern Regions is endowed with very rich in high-value agricultural commodities, especially the oil seeds that need to be harnessed for the region’s economic development.

The Northern Regional Minister, who officially launched the summit, in his address said the Northern Region is rich, not only rich in natural resources, but also in human capital, cultural heritage, and cross-border trade potential. With vast arable lands, emerging agro-industries, and a youthful entrepreneurial population, the region is well positioned to become a hub for Agro-processing.

“What we need now is targeted investment, investment that is smart, sustainable, and inclusive. Investment that brings jobs, improves infrastructure, builds local capacity, and opens markets beyond our borders,” he added.

He said through strategic partnerships, better trade facilitation, and targeted support for SMEs and cooperatives, “we can turn Tamale and the wider Northern belt into an export-ready zone, one that contributes meaningfully to Ghana’s goals under initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”, he said.

Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.