Dr. Sylvia Sinkari, a consultant and strategic partnerships contributor with the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) Africa, has urged Ghanaian businesses to prioritise value addition, collaboration, and production capacity to maximise the benefits of China’s zero-tariff trade policy.
She said improved access to the Chinese market would not automatically translate into business growth unless local enterprises could meet export requirements, maintain product quality, and supply goods in the quantities demanded.
Dr Sinkari made the call in an interview at the High-Level Ghana-China Zero Tariff Forum 2026, held at the Africa Trade House in Accra.
She stressed that value addition must be central to Ghana’s export strategy, urging businesses to invest in processing raw materials and light manufacturing rather than relying predominantly on unprocessed commodity exports.
“Value addition is a non-negotiable,” she said, emphasising the need for businesses to meet the quality standards of their target markets.
Dr Sinkari said lessons from previous trade arrangements showed that many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had not been adequately prepared to exploit available opportunities, making capacity-building and market-readiness support essential.
She disclosed that a supply chain programme was being developed to strengthen SMEs’ preparedness to access markets and meet export requirements.
She urged businesses operating in similar sectors to form associations, consortia, and other collaborative arrangements to pool resources, improve access to financing and technical expertise, and engage more effectively with policymakers and potential funding partners.
Dr. Sinkari identified the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) as potential partners in helping businesses organise themselves and access available support.
She said entrepreneurs also needed the technical knowledge, production capacity, and market information required to meet Chinese buyers’ demands and compete effectively in the international market.
The High-Level Ghana-China Zero Tariff Forum 2026 was organised by the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory (ACCPA) to promote stakeholder engagement on Ghana’s trade opportunities with China.
According to Dr. Sinkari, strengthening local production, adding value to exports and improving collaboration among businesses would be critical to translating the policy opportunity into sustainable business growth and increased export earnings.
By Joseph Kobla Wemakor
