GIPC launches investment outreach programme
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has launched a four-month outreach programme aimed at building the capacity of local businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.
Scheduled to begin his month, the programme is meant to equip owners of small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs with skills which will enable them to meet international market standards.
The outreach programme is also meant to identify specific investment opportunities for promotion in all the regions and encourage local companies to register with the centre to promote their interests.
It is expected to bring together professionals and stakeholders, such as economists, planners, entrepreneurs, the media, ministers, district chief executives and directors, to deliberate on how to attract investors to the various districts and regions.
Launch
Speaking at the official launch of the GIPC Nationwide Investment Outreach Programme in Accra last Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer of the centre, Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, said it was the expectation of the centre that the programme would foster partnerships and other interventions for the prosperity of businesses.
She said the programme would comprise the organisation of regional investment workshops in the 10 regions.
During that period, she said, selected project sites would be visited by local investors to obtain first-hand information on various projects being implemented in the interest of local businesses.
The outcomes of the outreach programmes would provide the opportunity for the GIPC to build the capacity of project owners to package their project proposals into acceptable business plans, she added.
She stated that all those were steps geared towards boosting the “Think Ghana, make it happen campaign” of promoting local industries.
Outcomes of previous workshops
Last year, 128 projects and businesses in the areas of agriculture, agro processing, manufacturing, services, tourism, construction, infrastructure, oil and mining were recorded.
In 2013 alone, Mrs Trebarh said, 115 private sector projects were sourced, profiled and promoted.
So far, she said, over 200 investors had shown interest in investing in local companies and businesses, emphasising that it was the positive result of various workshops that had taken place.
The CEO invited business owners, especially those who wished to expand their operations, to take advantage of the forum to learn new ways of attracting investors.
