The 7th Volta Trade and Investment Fair has been launched at Juapong in the North Tongu District.
At the launch last Monday, it was disclosed that close to 900 exhibitors from Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Namibia, India, Malaysia and other countries are expected at the fair, which is slated from November 26-December 6 this year, in Ho.
The exhibitions will focus mainly on agribusiness, ICT, textiles and manufacturing.
The event is on the theme: “Volta Rising – Global Partnership for a thriving 24-Hour Economy.”
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, who launched the fair on the premises of the defunct Juapong Textiles Limited, said a key objective of the fair was to revamp Juapong Textiles and create jobs for the teeming youth in the region.
He said the fair this year was anchored on the 24-Hour Economy policy with a strong government backing.
The regional minister said there were immense trade and investment opportunities in the Volta Region, adding that the Juapong Textiles Limited, (now Volta Star Textile Limited) was expected to start operating again at full capacity under the 24-hour model.
Meanwhile, Mr Gunu said establishing a 24-Hour industrial park in the Adaklu District with an already secured 1,500 acres would serve as a hub for manufacturing, logistics and export.
“These initiatives will not only create jobs but also open new avenues for trade and investment,” he maintained.
He touched on the fair's theme and said it was a clear call to action for transformation, which could not be realised singlehandedly.
“We need international investors, strategic alliances and global partnerships to bring technology, capital and expertise to our region,” Mr Gunu said.
Imaginary frontiers
The Togolese Ambassador, Colonel Awoki Panassa, who was a special guest at the function, said Togo and the Volta Region were bonded by strong trade, cultural and family ties.
He, however, indicated that imaginary frontiers could separate the people of both countries.
With a common history and shared destiny, the envoy said that Ghana and Togo would primarily benefit from the fair, especially in agribusiness, textile and automobile assembly.
The Charge D’Affaires of the Malaysian High Commission in Accra, Syed Nauzer Eddid, also said the fair was an appropriate event to link the Volta Region and, for that matter, Ghana to serious global investment connections.
Investment climate
The Vice-President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs (VRHC), Togbe Patamia Dzekle VII, said the region’s investment climate was safe and conducive for brisk businesses.
“However, let the business activities progress with respect for the environment to ensure their sustainability and to benefit generations yet unborn,” he said.
Togbe Dzekle pledged that the VRHC would assist investors in acquiring land for their businesses.
The Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Edem Kofi Kpotosu, entreated communities identified by investors for businesses to cultivate cordial ties with the investors, for one good turn to deserve another.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Volta Trade and Investment Fair, Fred Avornyo, stated that the event would act as a launchpad to integrate the Volta Region into dynamic markets across West Africa.
