The 18th International Trade Fair, which is expected to be patronised by over 500 exhibitors and attract 250,000 visitors, has been launched.

The fair, from 27th Feb to 3rd March, will focus on development through trade and investment, and will look at showcasing innovative initiatives from Ghana to the rest of the world.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC), Nana Kwame Ofori Amanfo, said the fair will give people from all over the world an opportunity to converge and trade in Ghana with their Ghanaian counterparts.

"It will also give Ghanaian businesses opportunity to show the rest of the world what they also have to offer, and to look for partners in various market jurisdictions.

"The International Trade Fair remains the only fair that gives Ghanaian businesses the opportunity to come face to face with their old and prospective clients both within and outside the country, as well as business partners and investors."

Mr. Amanfo said fairs are not only meant for businesses to sell their products, but rather to build networks with other businesses and partners.

"Our marketing objective is to rebrand the focus of the International Trade Fair on the platform of being an exhibition and not mainly a sales point."

He therefore advised business people to use the platform to create more business networks with foreign partners.

He said this year's fair will promote made-in-Ghana goods and services as well as create and build awareness for the local businesses.

He said the frequency of organising domestic, regional and international fairs has enabled the company to expose available domestic products and services to the international market. Through this, the G.T.F.C. facilitates the creation of export trade linkages between Ghanaian businesses and their foreign counterparts.

In addition, he said, the fairs offer local businesses the opportunity to assess, evaluate and appreciate product-quality standards required by foreign markets, and hence encourage exporters to improve on the quality and standards of their products and services so that they can effectively compete on foreign markets.