The Turkish kitchenware sector is working to increase its trade investment inflow to Ghana from the current $1.06 million to $10 million in the next three years through partnerships with Ghanaian industrialists. "Our goal is to increase the Turkish kitchenware exports to Ghana to $10 million in the next three years and $20 million in the next five years," said chairman of the Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Product Exporters' Association (ICCPEA), Murat Akyüz.

According to Akyüz, Turkish kitchenware exports to Ghana now stand at $1.06 million but on the whole, Turkey's annual kitchenware exports to the rest of the world is $4 billion. Akyüz led a 14-member kitchenware business delegation to Ghana and noted the current export levels were low and that the goal was to increase it tenfold. The delegation had business meetings with kitchenware importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers in the country.

The purpose of the visit was to establish the base for future business engagement that would yield better mutual benefits for both countries in the long term. The chairman said Ghana was chosen because of the great potential it had as a stable democracy and the gateway to countries in West Africa. He said the long term focus of the delegation was to seek joint-venture opportunities with their Ghanaian counterparts who would enable them to bring their expertise to bear on the production of kitchenware.

Akyüz said the "focus is not sales but our vision is to encourage Turkish industry players to see Ghana as a market where they could establish their production plants to produce locally and for export to the rest of the countries in West Africa. Selling alone will not help one another's economy."