Ghana, Sweden pledge to increase trade portfolio

Ghana and Sweden have affirmed their commitment to increase trade portfolio between them.

The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, and the outgoing Ambassador of Sweden to Ghana, Mr Per Ligarde, made the commitment in Accra Friday.

Mr Ligarde, who has finished his four-year duty tour of Ghana, called on the Vice-President at the Golden Jubilee Lounge at the Kotoka International Airport to thank the government for co-operating with him during his stay.

Mr Mahama said trade between Ghana and Sweden had increased appreciably but stressed the need for the two countries to build trade volumes and increase the exchange of official visits.

He said beside co-operation in the public sector, it was crucial for the two nations to intensify partnership in the private sector.

He said it was for that reason that the government had tasked the Ghana Chamber of Commerce to champion trade co-operation between Ghana and Sweden.

Mr Mahama said Ghana admired the development policies of Sweden, which had enabled that country to have a high human development index, adding that Ghana wanted to follow the model of development in Sweden and the other Scandinavian countries.

He said Ghana was becoming increasingly urbanised, with 53 per cent of the population living in urban centres. He, therefore, asked Sweden to use its expertise in sustainable urban development to support Ghana to develop Accra and other cities.

For his part, Mr Ligarde noted that trade relations between Sweden and Ghana had increased by 85 per cent in the last four years.

He said, however, that trade between the two countries was still low and reiterated the commitment of the government of Sweden to increase trade relations with Ghana.

He said the new focus was for Sweden to import more cash crops from Ghana and that it had already begun discussions with the Ghana Chamber of Commerce in that regard.

The outgoing Ambassador thanked the government for supporting him during his duty tour and was hopeful that relations between the two countries would be further strengthened.

On behalf of the government and people of Ghana, the Vice-President presented a wooden stool to Mr Ligarde and a Kente cloth to his wife.

Source: Daily Graphic