Friday, June 1, 2007

Barclays Sme Customers Explore Business in China

MEMBERS OF the Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited's Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SME) Business Club who took part in China's largest fair have returned home with numerous business opportunities that would enable them improve their businesses and the Ghanaian economy at large.

The forty-three people who attended the Canton Fair in Guangzhou that had a wide array of products of all kinds on display were introduced to the business culture, practices and processes of China, which is currently the most attractive emerging market in the world.

The Communications Manager of the Bank, Mr. Gayheart Mensah who briefed Business Chronicle upon their return, said the bank organized the trip for its club members to help them develop partnerships and other private business relationships with their counterparts in China.

He added that the trip also served as a platform to introduce the club members to the business community of China in the various sectors of manufacturing, distribution and service providers, adding that items on display included building materials, construction equipment, motor vehicles, computer and accessories, electrical appliances such as generators, vehicle spare parts and mining equipment.

According to him, "the Barclays SME Business Club members had good business discussions with some of the exhibitors and there was brisk business between the club members and the exhibitors. Some initiated deals and discussions that continued even after the fair."

He pointed out that the exhibitors were mainly suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and service providers who were interested in only partnerships or bulk purchasers, saying, "generators, computer and accessories, auto spare parts, construction equipment, leather products and garments were by far the items that appeared to be of interest to most of the Business Club members and other Ghanaians who were at the fair on their own."

He indicated that most of the Club members brought home samples of products from their would-be partners to help test the market in Ghana before arriving at any arrangements with their Chinese counterparts.

Mr. Mensah noted that besides the purchase of sample products, some members of the club also made good purchases and shipment of a lot of products such as garments and accessories and mobile phones among others for purposes of restocking their businesses.

He said Barclays was very hopeful that these trips would bring operators in Ghana's SME sector into contact with suppliers, manufacturers, investors and overseas buyers, and expose them to an enhanced business conduct and practice.

"It will also offer immense opportunities for franchises, representation, agencies, partnerships and foreign direct investment in Ghana. These would go to support the development Ghana's private sector", he stressed.

Also, Mr. Daniel Baah, Business Development Manager of Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited who accompanied the group said, "this is the second overseas trip for our SME Business Club members. Like last year's trip to Dubai, I think this one has been equally successful. Indeed, the trip to China has been an improvement on the previous trip. Most of the members have identified some business leads they would want to pursue further and we can only get better at organizing such packages as the years go by."

He further stated, "Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited remains committed to organizing such trips for its SME Club members. This is in addition to the various capacity building programmes organized for them every year. We are planning to organize subsequent trips based on the business interest of members."

Link to allAfrica.com: Ghana: Barclays Sme Customers Explore Business in China (Page 1 of 1)

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