In a move to empower Ghanaian women entrepreneurs, the International Trade Centre (ITC) has launched a handbook designed to guide women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in navigating the complexities of exporting cosmetic products to the UK.
Co-developed with Sidley Austin LLP under the Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program, and supported by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) as part of the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, the handbook aims to simplify the legal and regulatory landscape for these businesses.
According to the Trade Advisor for West Africa at the British High Commission, Miss Victoria Allard, "This handbook provides a clear roadmap for our women-led SMEs, helping them overcome the barriers they often face in accessing international markets." Miss Allard made this revelation in an October 22 address at the opening of a two-day workshop aimed at empowering women-led cocoa-processing SMEs in Accra.
Focusing primarily on the cosmetics sector, the handbook serves as a vital resource for understanding key regulatory requirements such as business registration, licenses, and authorizations.