The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Adjei Awatey, has called for stronger public private partnerships to unlock the region’s untapped agribusiness, tourism and trade potential.
She made the call at the launch of the Eastern Expo in Koforidua, a maiden initiative aimed at promoting local enterprises, attracting investment and positioning the region as a hub for business growth.
Home to more than two million people, according to the 2021 population and housing census, the eastern Region is endowed with rich agricultural resources, tourism attractions and commercial opportunities, many of which remain underexplored.
challenges such as limited value addition, inadequate processing opportunities and restricted market access continue to affect the growth potential of many local businesses.
The Eastern Expo, scheduled for late September to October, is expected to bring together businesses, investors and stakeholders to showcase products, create market linkages and promote investment opportunities across key sectors.
The platform will provide micro, small and medium enterprises with an opportunity to improve visibility, connect with potential partners and access new markets beyond the region.
For local entrepreneur Elorm Newlove, the Expo presents a chance to expand her customer base, strengthen her brand and increase returns on investment.
“I hope that my products would be known during the Expo and then have networks that would translate into exports”
She acknowledges that the changing business environment also requires local producers to adopt environmentally friendly packaging and meets emerging biodegradable standards
“We have heard what government requires from us to use in packing our products, we are currently considering ways to use environmental friendly product,” she said.
President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Nene Sackite, says the Expo has the potential to unlock dormant economic opportunities, attract private investment and create sustainable jobs, particularly for the youth.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Awatey, urged investors and development partners to establish agro processing industries, support value addition and invest in tourism infrastructure to accelerate economic transformation in the region.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy. But our future lies in value addition. We must process our cocoa, oil palm, citrus, cassava and vegetables into finished products that meet global standards. We want to use this Expo to invite investors to partner with us to establish processing industries. Our tourism sector is also ripe for investment. I encourage the private sector to take advantage. To our financial institutions, use this Expo to identify bankable businesses ready to scale up,” she said.
She believes sustained collaboration between government, traditional authorities and the private sector will be critical to turning the region’s resources into tangible economic opportunities.
“The onus therefore falls on state actors, the private sector, development partners, financial institutions, tourists, entrepreneurs and investors to work together in unlocking the untapped potentials that exist within Eastern Region.The Eastern Region is strategically positioned to lead this national agenda.
We are endowed with fertile agricultural lands, abundant natural resources, and thriving business centres. Some of Ghana’s most iconic tourism assets like; the Boti Falls, Aburi Botanical Gardens, Kwahu Mountains, Akosombo Dam are just few among many more Eco-tourism sites.”
She added “The proximity of communities to Accra and easy access to neighbouring regions, provide diverse opportunities for trade, logistics, manufacturing and investment.We want to unlock these potentials by showcasing them as we strive to address the constraints that keep our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from growth. These include lack of access to finance, technology, modern markets, and infrastructure that supports continuous operations”.
The Eastern Expo would take place from 26th September to 3rd October, 2026 on the theme, “Unlocking opportunities for sustainable trade, tourism and investment.”
By Yvonne Neequaye
