Accra, July 2, 2019. The horticulture sector in Ghana is beaming with life as HortiFresh opens its maiden edition of the Fruit and Vegetable Fair. The fair aims at providing a platform for trade promotion in the horticulture sector and to sensitize the general public about horticulture activities in the country. The fair was officially opened at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel by the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture responsible for horticulture, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, and the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Mr. Ron Strikker.

This year’s fair is under the theme “Promoting Quality Fruits and Vegetables for a Competitive Domestic and Export Market”. The theme resonates HortiFresh’s mission to develop an internationally competitive and sustainable fruit and vegetable sector in Ghana. The 4-day event that runs from Tuesday 2 July till Friday 5 July includes activities like seminars, a business platform meeting and exhibition awards.

Speaking at the official opening, the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mr. Ron Strikker indicated that the “the fair shows the Netherlands commitment to promote agriculture through private sector investment; gradually moving from Aid to Trade”. He was impressed by the number of new companies that the sector has attracted and the number of new products and services that are now available. He encouraged the companies to add value to their produce and meet international standards, while congratulating the efforts of participants for this year’s event.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture indicated the government’s determination to pursue its trade and development agenda through the launching of the Planting for Food and Jobs. In realizing this agenda is the most recent initiative that was launched is the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) which seeks to create a sustainable raw material base to boost its decentralized industrialization drive as envisaged under the ‘One-District, One-Factory’ initiative.

This year’s event brings together 70 exhibitors from all areas of the horticulture sector. The fair doesn’t have an entrance fee and is open to interested parties from Tuesday 2 July till Friday 5 July.