By Kofi AHOVI
Construction work has commenced for the establishment of a Perishable Cargo Centre (PCC), estimated at US$2.5 million at the Aviance Cargo Village in Accra
The PCC, which will store fruits and vegetables for export, is expected to be part of an integrated cold chain for the horticultural sub-sector, which is required to achieve better produce quality and higher export market prices.
It would also enable exporters to maintain produce quality to meet international standards of the high-end export market.
The project, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States, is being implemented by MiDA, Ghana.
Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industries, performing the sod-cutting ceremony, called on exporters of horticultural products to take advantage of the facility to protect their produce to meet international certified standards.
She expressed dissatisfaction that some stakeholders in the international export community complained about the fallen standards of quality export produce, stressing that the PCC project, when completed, would forestall the situation.
Tetteh underscored the importance of access to market, which is equally as critical as finance is to business.
She stressed the importance of maintaining the PCC facility to serve the intended purpose.
Doreen Owusu-Fianko, Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), expressed the hope that the provision of PCC would position Ghana to attract both local and foreign investments in the export business, as well as augment the country's freight output.
"Our investigation indicated that importers were rejecting our produce due to poor handling from Kotoka International Airport as they claimed these products failed to meet safety and international certification standards," she said.
Owusu-Fianko said GACL had provided a 2.86 acre land for the project and pledged their commitment towards partnering with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) to provide world class gateway infrastructure and operations at the airport.
"The project is part of government's agenda to address the reduction of rural poverty through targeted agricultural, transportation related and social infrastructural interventions through the MiDA," she said.
Construction work has commenced for the establishment of a Perishable Cargo Centre (PCC), estimated at US$2.5 million at the Aviance Cargo Village in Accra
The PCC, which will store fruits and vegetables for export, is expected to be part of an integrated cold chain for the horticultural sub-sector, which is required to achieve better produce quality and higher export market prices.
It would also enable exporters to maintain produce quality to meet international standards of the high-end export market.
The project, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States, is being implemented by MiDA, Ghana.
Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industries, performing the sod-cutting ceremony, called on exporters of horticultural products to take advantage of the facility to protect their produce to meet international certified standards.
She expressed dissatisfaction that some stakeholders in the international export community complained about the fallen standards of quality export produce, stressing that the PCC project, when completed, would forestall the situation.
Tetteh underscored the importance of access to market, which is equally as critical as finance is to business.
She stressed the importance of maintaining the PCC facility to serve the intended purpose.
Doreen Owusu-Fianko, Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), expressed the hope that the provision of PCC would position Ghana to attract both local and foreign investments in the export business, as well as augment the country's freight output.
"Our investigation indicated that importers were rejecting our produce due to poor handling from Kotoka International Airport as they claimed these products failed to meet safety and international certification standards," she said.
Owusu-Fianko said GACL had provided a 2.86 acre land for the project and pledged their commitment towards partnering with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) to provide world class gateway infrastructure and operations at the airport.
"The project is part of government's agenda to address the reduction of rural poverty through targeted agricultural, transportation related and social infrastructural interventions through the MiDA," she said.
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