Fidelity Bank partners with other businesses to support export trade
Fidelity Bank has partnered with the Eco. business Development Facility (eco. business DF), Development Bank Ghana (DBG) and the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) to introduce an expansive export support initiative for Ghanaian businesses focused on exporting goods.
This collaboration aims to enhance export opportunities for Ghanaian companies engaged in both agricultural and non-traditional export sectors.
Central to the strategy is the establishment of the Fidelity Export Club, a joint effort by the export value partners. This initiative aims to unite Ghanaian exporters and offer essential assistance in key areas including market expansion, skill development, financial access, regulatory compliance, technical support, and the promotion of sustainable business practices.
Members of the club will enjoy streamlined and efficient application procedures, adaptable repayment terms, competitive interest rates, lending based on transaction history, and cost-effective fees.
Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Julian Opuni speaking on the sidelines of the seminar, reiterated that Fidelity Bank is ever-willing to provide financial support and advisory services to local businesses and entrepreneurs within the various value chains in the Agric and export sector across the country.
The Managing Director added: “Here at Fidelity, sustainability principles, as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, form a core, non-negotiable facet of all our business operations. ESG considerations have been embedded as a primary requirement in our credit facility approval modalities. In line with this, we are keen on liaising with our export value partners to champion the integration of ESG principles in our customers’ businesses”.
The seminar series attracted over 400 participants from various segments of Ghana’s export industry. They included primary producers and processors, exporters and aggregators as well as agricultural stakeholders such as experts from the Plant Protection and Regulatory Directorate (PPRD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), GIRSAL, Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Office of the Registrar of Companies and the Ghana National Fire Service.
The Deputy CEO of Development Bank Ghana, Michael Mensah-Baah, highlighted DBG’s commitment to fostering private sector growth. He stated, “DBG’s core mission is to facilitate private sector growth, primarily by offering long-term financing solutions.”
“We, however, recognize that funding alone is not enough to guarantee the desired growth for our clients in the private sector. That is why we engage in progressive partnerships, such as this, to provide a comprehensive package of funding, capacity-building and technical expertise to drive the required growth of private businesses; in this case, within the agro and non-traditional export sector.” he added
The President of FAGE, Davies Narh Korboe, praised the initiative with much enthusiasm regarding the launch of the export club and the forthcoming seminars and associated activities. He remarked: “This partnership has come at the right time as it is really critical for the non-traditional export sector. I’m particularly happy to see that the focus of this initiative is very comprehensive and covers not just the export, but also other key considerations on the part of the exporters such as production, regulatory compliance, advocacy and sustainability practices”.
Through the introduction of the Fidelity Export Club, Fidelity Bank and its collaborators aim to put into action concrete steps to tap into the vast potential of Ghana’s export industry.