(a) No Co-operatives have been linked to international market opportunities, since there has been no uptake from Co-operatives within this programme nor are there Co-operatives that are export ready. Most of the Co-operatives are still in the primary stage and do not have products to export. The DSBD conceptualised the Co-operative Development Support Programme (CDSP) with an objective to support Co-operative enterprises financially and non-financially in partnership with other key strategic stakeholders. The CDSP programme offers blended financing to eligible Co-operatives on a cost-sharing funding of a combination of a grant and loan. The programme assists with machinery, equipment, infrastructure, commercial vehicles and business development support necessary to grow Co-operative enterprises. Through this programme, it is envisaged that Co-operatives will grow and increase their manufacturing capacity to ultimately participate in the export market through the export development programme which aims to capacitate SMMEs and Co-operatives to become export ready.
(b) In the 2021/2022 financial year, 242 SMMEs were exposed to International Markets including virtual Business to Business meetings. Since the easing of travel restrictions in 2021, 83 clients participated in physical trade shows, and 159 virtual namely:
In the current financial year 2022/23, 51 clients have been exposed to international markets to date, namely:
An additional 20 clients were participating at the Ghana Food and Beverage show on 15-17 March 2023 bringing the total for 2022/23 to 71 businesses exposed to International Markets. The total number of SMMEs exposed to market since the appointment of the Minister is 313.