AGI launches 13th Ghana Industry and Quality Awards to create resilience among businesses

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has launched the 13th Ghana Industry and Quality Awards to create resilience in the Ghanaian business landscape.Dr Nora Bannerman-Abbot, the AGI Awards Planning Committee Chairperson, said the Awards would reward companies that had distinguished themselves in navigating through uncharted waters and emerged stronger and more innovative.The categories for this year's awards include the Major Awards, the Sector Awards and the Regional Awards. However, a few honorary Awards would also be given to deserving firms and personalities.She said the planning committee had made deliberate efforts to distinguish the Awards from the several awards schemes by partnering with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for best quality standards.The launch was on the theme: 'Navigating The Uncertainties Of Our Business Landscape To Sustain Productivity.'Dr Bannerman-Abott encouraged businesses to adopt science, technology and innovation, artificial intelligence and other digital t ools to drive businesses for development.Mr Michael Okyere Baafi, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, said the government was implementing several initiatives such as the 'SME Goal' to propel growth among businesses, especially small businesses to thrive to meet international demand.He said the government was giving out very low interest rates and tax incentives to foreign companies to enhance industrial growth.The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry said the Ghana Revenue Authority was also developing flexible arrangements for businesses for a more collaborative approach to ensure market sustainability.He said quality was key in the business sector, saying: 'if your product is quality, it will be able to compete at the international market and that will drive more customers and investors into the country'.He commended the AGI for such awards to enable businesses strive for the best since it served as a competitive measurement among companies and ensured companies work according to standards.Mr Seth Twum-Akwaboah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), speaking to the media, said sustainability was crucial in the business sector to enable businesses to overcome risk and shocks.He called on the government to ensure there was improvement in the industrial sector by engaging the AGI to analyze government's policies to impact and protect the interests of the sector.He said government must also ensure that policies were being implemented to ensure manufacturing growth through sustainable policies.The CEO congratulated businesses which doing well amid challenging macroeconomic conditions, adding that more exports than imports would improve national development.Source: Ghana News Agency