Form business partnerships to build strong economies – Awal urges African countries

The Minister of Business Development, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, has challenged African countries to form business partnerships to build strong economies that will create job opportunities for the youth.

He said enhancing bilateral trade relations required that the right fiscal reforms and monetary structures were put in place for the private sectors of African countries to collaborate and share best practices.

"We need to build an African economy that will be strong and resilient enough to create investment opportunities and create jobs for the youth as a measure to restore hope and boost the aspiration of the younger generations," he said.

Expo

Mr Awal was speaking at the Sudan-Ghana Business, Culture and Higher Education Expo 2017 held in Accra yesterday.

Held on the theme: "Towards Sudan-Ghana Meaningful Partnership: Investing in the Future", the event provided an opportunity for the two countries to interact and share investment opportunities.

The expo was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and the Sudan through business and culture.

On display at the event were Sudanese products and investment opportunities in the education, oil and gas, agriculture and telecommunications sectors.

The event attracted government agencies, private sector and civil society organisations from the two countries, including representatives from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and other stakeholders.

Assurance

Mr Awal said the government was committed to building a transformational economy that would provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

"It is rather unfortunate that Ghana-Sudan business relation has been so abysmal or non-existent.

"This event ought to be the turning point of enhanced diplomatic relations and business partnerships between the two countries," he said.

The Sudanese Minister of State for Investment, Mr Osama Faisal, said the Sudan would take bold steps to trade relations with Ghana and also enhance co-operation in education, agriculture and other relevant sectors.

"We need bilateral trade relations and the right partnership to make Africa a strong bloc that will be self-reliant.

"The time has come for African countries to be confident and stand together to be able to utilise our resources for our own development rather than relying on foreign support at all times," he said.

Youth key

Mr Faisal also emphasised the need to invest in the youth, stating that it was the most sustainable way to develop African countries.

"Our youth cannot continue to die while trying to cross the ocean to other continents to seek greener pastures.  We need partnerships to create the opportunities our youth need to develop," he said.

The Sudanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Babikir Elsiddiq Elamin, reiterated the need for stronger bilateral relations between the two countries.

He called for the private sectors of both countries to take keen interest in building their respective countries.