The President and Co-Founder of the Ghana-Sweden Chamber of Commerce, Pearl Delali Vanderpuije, has called for greater investment in technology, skills and innovation to help African manufacturers compete effectively in global markets.
She made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 3rd International Manufacturing Conference & Awards and the 2nd Ghana Eminence Conference and Awards 2026 at Alisa Hotel, Accra.
Vanderpuije said Africa must move beyond its traditional position as a supplier of raw materials and a consumer of finished products by strengthening its productive capacity and increasing value addition.
She said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides manufacturers with a growing continental market. Still, businesses must build the capacity required to take advantage of the opportunities it presents.
“This requires investment in technology, skills, quality, innovation, and efficiency,” Vanderpuije said, stressing that these areas are critical to enabling African businesses to compete and expand.
She also identified Sweden as a potential strategic partner in Africa’s industrial transformation, particularly in innovation, production and value addition.
“This is where my Swedish people come in. Sweden can be a strategic partner when it comes to innovation and then production and adding value,” she said.
Vanderpuije said the manufacturers recognised at the ceremony had demonstrated that African businesses could produce quality goods, create employment and compete successfully in both African and international markets.
She also emphasised the importance of leadership alongside productive enterprise, saying that a successful economy requires businesses that create value and leaders capable of creating an environment in which such opportunities can flourish. She congratulated all the award recipients and urged them to sustain their contribution to Ghana and Africa’s development.
The event, organised by The Business Executive, brought together manufacturers, business leaders and distinguished personalities to recognise excellence in manufacturing, entrepreneurship, professional achievement, public service and other areas of national development.
