Cape Coast: Vice President, Professor Jane Nana Opoku-Agyemang heralds this year's Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) Trade, Tourism and Investment Expo, dubbed: 'Central Expo 2025.' The Vice President will officially open the fair on Monday, August 25 at the Adisadel school park.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Expo themed 'Unlocking business opportunities in the Central Region,' will take place from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, 31. It aims to showcase the region's trade, tourism, and investment opportunities to a global audience. This annual week-long event is expected to attract thousands of exhibitors and investors, thereby accelerating the region's economic development.
The expo is designed to enhance international exposure, foster partnerships, and support business development, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It will highlight the region's investment prospects to a wide audience, including the financial and corporate sectors. This strategic initiative aligns with the CRCC's Regional Development Strategy and Transformative Agenda, aiming to stimulate economic activities and harness the region's untapped resources.
Facilitating networking opportunities and business forums, the expo will promote domestic tourism, attract private sector investments, create employment opportunities, and empower youth entrepreneurship. Additionally, it seeks to encourage collaboration among stakeholders to minimize conflicts and promote a conducive environment for investments.
The Expo will feature a women and youth in business empowerment forum, free health screenings, a children's playground, evening entertainment, music cultural nights, a cooking competition, and a local food festival. Organised by CRCC in collaboration with the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM), the Central Regional House of Chiefs, and all 22 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, the event ensures broad-based participation and coordination across the region.
Originally held in 1998, the Central Expo returned in 2022 as an annual event after a 24-year hiatus. Recent editions have focused on sustaining business opportunities, nurturing SMEs, and connecting local and international exhibitors.
At the launch, Mr. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, rejected the poverty label associated with the region and called for renewed vigour and determination. He lamented the region's current state and pledged a comprehensive initiative to revitalise the Expo, highlighting its role as a catalyst for investment and industrial growth.
Odeefo Amoakwa Boadu VIII, President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, urged the people to harness trade opportunities and encouraged investors to explore promising sectors like agriculture, tourism, and industry. By investing in these areas, stakeholders can significantly contribute to the region's socioeconomic advancement and job creation, fostering sustainable growth.
