GIRSAL participated in the 2026 Fruit Logistica Fair in Berlin, Germany, with a strategic focus on strengthening Ghana’s horticulture sector. This year, GIRSAL aimed to identify priority horticultural value chains with strong export scalability and engage prospective off-takers for the GIRSAL commercial chilli pepper project, which has more than 10 agribusinesses under it.
Fruit Logistica is globally recognised as one of the leading international trade exhibitions for the fresh produce industry, bringing together more than 2,600 exhibitors from over 90 countries. The event convenes producers, exporters, buyers, logistics providers, technology innovators, financiers, and policymakers across the entire fresh produce value chain, from production and post-harvest handling to distribution and retail. The 2026 theme, “Let’s Grow!”, resonated with Ghana’s ambition to expand competitive, export-oriented horticulture.
For GIRSAL, the fair provided a strategic platform to align Ghana’s horticultural production systems with credible international market demand while strengthening the risk-sharing and financing structures required to support sustainable export growth.
A central component of the mission was advancing the commercial chilli project, which seeks to position Ghana as a reliable supplier of fresh red and green chilli to premium export markets. Targeting average weekly exports of approximately 30 metric tons, the initiative is designed to integrate coordinated production systems, certification compliance, off-taker alignment, and appropriate financing mechanisms into a bankable export model. Engagements in Berlin enabled discussions with prospective buyers to clarify product specifications, quality standards, pricing expectations, certification requirements, and logistics frameworks necessary to secure sustainable commercial partnerships.
Beyond chilli, GIRSAL used the platform to assess additional horticultural value chains with strong export scalability potential. Ghana’s horticulture sector remains one of the country’s most promising non-traditional export segments, contributing about USD 114 million annually to foreign exchange earnings, employment, and economic diversification. Products such as pineapple, mango, coconut, vegetables, yam, and sweet potatoes continue to present growth opportunities, particularly where production systems are strengthened to meet international standards for quality, consistency, traceability, and supply reliability. The delegation also evaluated modern production technologies and post-harvest innovations, with particular attention to pest management solutions suitable for net-house cultivation systems, which are critical for improving yields, reducing losses, and ensuring compliance with export market phytosanitary requirements.
GIRSAL’s engagement at the fair builds on its broader efforts over the years to support horticultural exporters through structured financing interventions, targeted advocacy, and stakeholder coordination. GIRSAL has used its Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) instrument to mobilise in excess of GHS 100 million in loans to the horticultural sector, helping agribusinesses invest in production, aggregation, cold-chain infrastructure, and export readiness.
Exporters continue to face operational challenges, particularly in the handling of perishable goods at Ghana’s sea and air ports, where delays can compromise cold-chain integrity, reduce shelf life, and increase the cost of doing business. Through sustained engagements with exporters, financial institutions, and relevant public agencies, GIRSAL has supported initiatives aimed at improving coordination and safeguarding perishable exports, recognising that competitiveness in the global fresh produce market depends not only on production capacity but also on logistics efficiency and regulatory alignment. One such intervention is GIRSAL’s contribution to resolving the licensure impasse at Shed 9 of the Tema Harbour. Although addressing the underlying issues has proven complex and remains ongoing, these efforts are nonetheless helping to improve the competitiveness of fresh produce exports.
Commenting on the significance of the mission, the CEO, Mr. Nicholas Afrifa, stated:
“Fruit Logistica provides an important platform to connect Ghana’s horticultural production with credible international demand. Our focus remains on commercially viable value chains, particularly the chili initiative, while working with exporters, financiers, and public stakeholders to address constraints that affect competitiveness.”
He also added that “this approach aligns with the President’s 24-Hour Economy and the Accelerated Export Development Program, which seek to expand productive capacity, deepen value chain integration, and unlock sustained export growth. Sustainable growth requires coordinated production systems, reliable market links, and risk-sharing mechanisms that support long-term investment.”
The GIRSAL delegation was led by the Board Chairman, Prof. Richard Jinks Bani, and included Board Member Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Afrifa, and Chief Operating Officer Samuel Yeboah. Ghana’s participation at the fair was coordinated through exhibition space secured jointly by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE).
Over 51 Ghanaian participants attended, comprising producers, exporters, financial institutions, and industry associations. Exhibitors showcased a diverse range of products, including pineapple, coconut, mango, assorted vegetables, yam, sweet potatoes, cocoa products, cashew, fruit juices, and Asian vegetables. Associations represented included FAGE, GhanaVeg, the Coconut Federation, PAMPEAG, SPEG, and the Yam Exporters Association, while GIRSAL and Fidelity Bank Ghana represented the financial sector, reinforcing the importance of coordinated efforts in providing financing solutions to scale export-ready agribusinesses.
During the fair, Mr. Afrifa, had an encounter with the President of FAGE, Mr. Davies Korboe and assured FAGE of GIRSAL’s readiness and willingness to support the Fruits and Vegetables sector through its Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) and Technical Assistance, reaffirming GIRSAL’s commitment to deepening financing across the horticultural value chain.
Following the fair, GIRSAL will undertake follow-up engagements with identified off-takers to refine commercial frameworks, clarify certification pathways, and define logistics models aligned with export requirements. The institution will also continue collaborating with GEPA, FAGE, industry associations, and financial institutions to strengthen producer readiness and promote bankable agribusiness models anchored in credible market demand.
Fruit Logistica 2026, therefore, served not only as a showcase platform for Ghana’s horticultural capacity but also as a strategic opportunity to advance scalable value chains, deepen market linkages, and strengthen the systems required for sustained export competitiveness.