The role of technology in enhancing competitiveness of local enterprises

Abstract

The Food Research institute (FRI) is mandated by the government of Ghana to conduct applied research, through laboratory and pilot scale investigations, into problems of food processing and preservation, storage, marketing, distribution and utilization in order to assist the local industries to improve on and diversify their operations. Food Research institute has developed a number of food technologies including high quality cassava flour for industrial purposes, weaning foods to combat malnutrition among children, mushroom products and chorkor smoker for fish processing among others. Through training of trainers approach, Food Research has been able to transfer its improved technologies to micro, small and medium scale enterprises and thereby assist in building cluster based initiatives. This paper elaborates on the role of technology in enhancing competitiveness of local enterprises drawing on the experiences of the Food Research Institute and impact on the Ghanaian food industry