The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says government has anchored Ghana’s economic policy on international and trade diplomacy.

She said that anchoring econom­ic agenda on trade diplomacy was key in enhancing the socio-eco­nomic transformation of the country.

In a speech read on her behalf by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mr Sampson Ahi, at the opening of the 4th edition of the Made-in- Ghana Bazaar in Accra on Friday, she said “Economic diplomacy is a dynamic process that integrates trade promotion, investment facilitation, development coopera­tion, and the advancement of our national economic interest on the global stage.”

This year’s event was under the theme, “Championing Economic Diplomacy: Connecting Producers, Markets, and Opportunities.”

According to her, the Made-in- Ghana Bazaar served as a strategic platform for leveraging the trade diplomacy and economic develop­ment strategies of the government to advance the country’s export and industrial transformation agenda.

She further emphasised the need to strengthen inter-minis­terial collaboration in advancing the country’s economic and trade diplomacy.

The purpose of the event, she stated, aligned with the trade pro­motion objectives of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and In­dustry (MOTAI) and reflected the deep synergy between diplomatic outreach and trade policy.

The Vice President pointed out that it was important to ensure that Made-in-Ghana brands aligned not only with the African Conti­nental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opportunities but also with global value chains.

Additionally, she noted that the full potential of the planned development of a comprehensive brochure, envisioned as a directory of Made-in-Ghana products and key export related information could only be realised through collaboration with the MOTAI.

The Deputy Minister of For­eign Affairs, Mr James Gyakye Quayson, highlighted some programmes that were being implemented by the government to accelerate industrial development, increase competitiveness, and job creation.

Among the programmes, he said, was the rapid industrialisa­tion for jobs initiative, women in trade, agribusiness, the industry, and programme, accelerated export development programme, national apprenticeship programme, and the adwumawura programme.

According to him, the minis­try, together with its diplomatic missions abroad and partner institutions, was on course with the execution of the country’s eco­nomic diplomacy agenda.

He opined that the government was determined to facilitate the penetration of Ghanaian products and services into foreign markets to help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) thrive.

The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr Julius Debrah, urged participants at the event to promote Made-in-Ghana products and services both on the local and international market.

The event, which was initiated in 2018 in pursuant of its econom­ic and industrial transformation agenda, featured the exhibition of Made-in-Ghana products and ser­vices as well as panel discussions.