Manila, Philippines, October 9, 2026 —The Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG), Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, has received a Certificate of Appreciation at the 2026 International World Rice Conference in recognition of his active participation, knowledge-sharing and valuable contributions to the global rice industry.
The recognition was presented by the conference organisers, The Rice Trader and the International Commodity Institute, at the three-day event held from October 7 to 9 at the Dusit Thani Manila in the Philippines.
Mr. Awingobit also distinguished himself as a key contributor to this year’s conference, actively participating in discussions and sharing perspectives on issues affecting the global rice trade. His contributions provided an important platform for highlighting Ghana’s rice import and trade interests while strengthening engagement between Ghanaian businesses and international stakeholders across the rice value chain.
Mr. Awingobit’s recognition underscores his continued engagement with the international rice trade community and his efforts to strengthen collaboration among rice producers, farmers, importers and exporters across markets.
This year’s conference brought together key stakeholders from across the global rice value chain to exchange market intelligence, explore emerging trade opportunities and discuss developments shaping the future of rice production and commerce.
It marks the third time Mr. Awingobit has participated in the prestigious international gathering, having previously attended the 2024 edition in Manila, Philippines, and the 2025 conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Through his previous engagements, the IEAG Executive Secretary has helped connect Ghanaian rice importers with farmers, producers and trading partners in the Philippines and Cambodia, creating opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to establish commercial relationships and explore new markets.
The Association believes these engagements are important to strengthening Ghana’s rice supply chain, improving access to international suppliers and creating mutually beneficial partnerships that support the country’s wider trade interests.
The IEAG is confident that Mr. Awingobit’s continued participation in the conference will yield further benefits for Ghana by deepening international trade relationships, expanding business opportunities and improving access to market information for Ghanaian importers and exporters.
The Association has reiterated its commitment to pursuing strategic international engagements that promote trade facilitation, enhance private-sector competitiveness and advance Ghana’s position in the global trading environment.