Minister calls on international business community to invest in Ghana

Ms. Hanna Tetteh, Minister for Trade and Industry, has called on the global business community to explore and invest in attractive opportunities in the various sectors of Ghana’s economy.

She said that government was pursuing policies and strategies aimed at maintaining friendly and peaceful co-existence and expanding economic cooperation with sister African countries and the world at large to ensure that Ghana’s oil find becomes a blessing rather than a curse to the country.

According to a statement signed by Nana Akrasi-Sarpong, Acting Director Communications and Public Affairs of the Ministry, Ms Hanna Tetteh was addressing Chinese government officials, diplomats, business executives and other participants at the Ghana National Day celebration at the on-going 2010 World Expo in Shangai, China.

The event was preceded by a flag raising ceremony and signing of Honour Book at the Expo Centre.

Ms. Tetteh said Ghana’s participation in the World Expo 2010 underscored its commitment to be part of the international system to promote, enhance and share ideas on the theme: “Better City, Better Life”.

“By participating in the Expo, Ghana stands the better chance of strengthening bilateral cooperation with China, promoting economic activities, enhancing Ghana’s effort in modernizing our cities, improving market access to China and other Asian countries, adding value to Ghana’s agricultural raw materials and promoting Ghana’s eco-tourism.”

Ms. Tetteh said that Ghana, like any other developing country was experiencing massive migration from the rural areas to the urban centers leading to congestion, slums and other social problems.

She said: ‘Government in recognition of this has initiated strategies to stem this movement adding, Ghana’s participation in the 2010 World Expo would enable it to exchange ideas and learn from other countries, to stem the rural-urban drift.

Ms. Tetteh said that Ghana was participating in the Expo on the theme: “Garden Cities” to advocate the judicious use of resources to enhance socio-economic advancement on one hand and sound environmental practices on the other.

She noted that Ghana and China have maintained cordial political, cultural and economic relations for several decades.

Ms. Tetteh commended China for supporting Ghana to promote her agriculture, energy, infrastructure and financial sectors.

She said that Ghana was gradually becoming a hub for Chinese businesses and trade between the two countries has improved tremendously over the last few years adding, “China currently leads in direct foreign investment in Ghana with almost 500 projects”.

Ms. Tetteh commended the Chinese government for organizing the Expo and inviting and supporting Ghana financially to participate in the event.

At a business launch, the Deputy Commissioner General of the Shangai EXPO, Jaing Zhengyun, proposing a toast, said that bilateral cooperation between Ghana and China dated back to the era of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

He said that China would support Ghana and congratulated the Black Stars for their impressive performance at the just ended FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Ms. Tetteh called on Ghana and China to deepen their cooperation

The Minister and her entourage watched a documentary depicting the difficulties the people of China endured in reconstructing their country.

Ms. Tetteh toured the Chinese pavilion and signed the visitor’s book. and visited the pavilion of Kenya, Cameroon and other African countries.

The Minister held a meeting with officials after touring Ghana’s pavilion to acquaint herself with what the country was showcasing to the international community.

At a business forum, Mr. Peng Yezhen Peng, Chairman of Shandong Hiage Group, called on the business community to transform the challenges confronting Ghana into business opportunities.

He stressed that Ghana had a lot of business opportunities which must be exploited by the Chinese business community.

Officials of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Ghana Free Zones Board took the Chinese business community through the business opportunities in Ghana.

Representatives of Huawei Company, Zoomlion, Shenzhen Energy, Sino Hydro Corporation, and Shangai Construction Group discussed their business experiences in Ghana.

Other Ghanaian officials who attended the event were;  Hellen Mamle Kofi, Ghana’a Ambassador to China, Mr. John Gyentua, Minister of State at the Presidency, Mr.  Amadu Sorogho, Member of Parliament for Adenta, some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade and Industry and  representatives of agencies under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The Ghana Dance Ensemble treated the participants to a cultural display, waving miniature flags; they could not help but joined the dancers on stage.

Source: GNA