Nebraska Governor’s Coin to Ghanaian delegation: Signifying growing bond between Ghana, Nebraska

The Nebraska State Governor, Jim Pillen has praised the Ghana-Nebraska Agribusiness Growth and Trade Relations Chamber (GNEBCham) as a pacesetter in strengthening agricultural infrastructure, facilitating agribusiness trade, knowledge sharing, capacity building and development of activities aimed at unlocking new opportunities and push the agribusiness sectors in both Ghana and Nebraska towards a flourishing agricultural future.

Speaking at a Meet-and-Greet session with a 30-member Ghanaian delegation who recently participated in the just-ended Husker Harvest Days experience and trade and investment event, Governor Pillen placed high importance on GNEBCham success in facilitating trade opportunities and fostering collaboration that greatly placed value between the two regions.

Ghanaian delegation

The 30-member Ghanaian business delegation, who were all members of the chamber, were in Nebraska to participate in the Husker Harvest Days and a Trade and Investment Activity.

As part of their five-days business trip, the delegation was matched with key Nebraskan agricultural companies, including Bayer, Nebraska Star Beef, chief Industries and Nebraska state universities, championing agriculture.

Key platform

Governor Jim Pillen applauded the chamber for acting as a key platform for American businesses seeking to engage Africa, especially Ghana and for helping Ghanaian companies navigate the Nebraska agricultural market.

“I am impressed about this growing trade and business linkages between our two regions and we are opened to work with you to identify business gaps and what we can collectively do for our mutual business growth,” he said.

Governor Pillen also highlighted some major areas he expected collaboration between Ghana and Nebraska, pointing out for instance that Nebraska’s bio economy and sustainable practices could greatly benefit Ghana’s agriculture.

Nebraska potentials

“What we do here in Nebraska can be a game-changer for Ghana’s agriculture,” he told the trade delegation.

The governor also emphasised how Ghana could tap into the seven generations of innovation that had shaped the state of Nebraska agricultural landscape, exemplified by Husker Harvest Days and other agricultural programmes as keys to achieving long-term success.

The major highlight of the Meet-and-Greet event was the symbolic presentation of a Governor’s Coin to the Ghanaian delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, signifying the growing bond between Ghana and Nebraska.

Response

Responding, Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong also extended gratitude to Governor Pillen for his support of GNEBCham and commended him for his dedication to strengthening the chamber’s vision.

The deputy minister also commended Nebraska’s openness for collaboration, which he said was a major factor in advancing trade relations and unlocking mutual opportunities for agribusiness growth between the two regions.

Overall goal

The overall goal of the delegates was to ensure that members of the delegation were strategically linked to ensure measurable business outcomes by leveraging Nebraska’s agricultural strengths and its advanced practices in bio-economy, innovative and technological approaches.

The GNEBCham is an international representative arm of selected Nebraska Senators, farmers, agribusinesses and subsidiaries voluntarily working together with their Ghanaian partners to create an environment where agribusiness and trade can thrive between Ghanaians and Nebraskans and beyond.

The chamber is a non-for-profit organisation, established in 2023, as a joint venture between Ghana and Nebraska public and private sector officials to strengthen, encourage, promote, foster and facilitate agribusiness trade relations between Ghana and Nebraska.

The chamber aims to create strong linkages, foster trade relations and promote sustainable growth by connecting businesses in Ghana and Nebraska, serving as a dynamic hub for trade exchange and development opportunities.

The chamber is committed to creating relationships that strengthen the agricultural sector and this is done through exchange programmes, webinars, workshops, sector-focused capacity building  sessions, trade fairs, matchmakings, membership community project activities among others.