THE GCB Bank has partnered Global Shea Alliance (GSA) to support 10 small businesses from Ghana to market their produce to the international community at the recently held Africa Cosmetics Products Exhibition in Dubai.
The event was organised by the GSA, a non-profit organisation with 450 members from 33 countries, as part of the Middle East Organic and Natural Products Expo held last month.
It afforded the participating businesses the opportunity to develop market relations with cosmetic producers with the aim of supplying them the butter or receiving investments for retooling.
A statement from the GSA, headquartered in Accra, explained that participants exhibited products ranging from raw shea butter, body lotions, creams, soaps, body scrubs, baby products, lip balms, mosquito repellent creams and black soaps.
It added that the alliance team facilitated buyer meetings and market linkages between exhibitors and key distributors and retailer brands from Asia, Africa, Middle East and South America.
“The event was visited by over 10,000 people from the beauty, spa and organic cosmetic product industries from Middle East, Asia, South America, Europe and Africa.
“Participants made over 800 contacts and signed five contracts to supply their products to different buyers,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the GCB Bank said it was proud to be associated with the Africa Cosmetics Exhibition.
Participants’ reaction
The Founder of R&R Naturals, a shea butter cosmetics company, Madam Valerie Obaze, praised the exhibition as a good initiative that would help improve the lot of Ghana’s nascent shea butter industry.
“I am really excited to participate in this year’s exhibition. I was fortunate to have signed a contract to supply my products to a retailer in Dubai,” she stated.
The GSA currently comprises institutions and women groups, brands and retailers, suppliers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) dealing in the shea business.
Through public-private partnerships, the GSA ensures industry sustainability, disseminates quality practices and standards, and promotes shea in food and cosmetics industries.
The alliance is expanding markets by developing new ingredient technologies, conducting research to improve value proposition, engaging consumers and advocating for improved regulatory environments.
About Africa Cosmetics fair
The Africa Cosmetics Exhibition is a platform that enables Africa-based small businesses to meet and interact with international buyers at various trade shows.
With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Africa Cosmetics Exhibitions have been held in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and United Arab Emirates.
It has so far benefitted over 60 small cosmetics businesses from different countries across Africa.
