Local business community interacts with Indian delegation
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has stressed the need for the younger generation to be trained to acquire the requisite skills and knowledge in the country’s quest to re-industrialise.
“There is a gap in the education system when it comes to industrialisation,” he stressed.
The minister was delivering the keynote address at the India-Ghana Business Forum in Accra Tuesday.
A 20-member Indian business delegation is in the country to explore investment opportunities and forge partnerships with local businessmen and women.
The forum was, therefore, to bring the delegation and their Ghanaian counterparts together to discuss issues of mutual benefit.
Indians are among the top investors in the country.
Some Indian companies in Ghana include Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Airtel, Melcom Group, Larsen & Toubro, NIIT and Mohan Exports Indian pharmaceutical products are now flooding the country.
According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Indian investments in Ghana total $637.34 million and cover 602 projects, making it the second largest foreign investor country in Ghana in terms of the number of projects, after China, the first one.
Re-industrialisation
Dr Spio-Garbrah said Ghana had a great potential for industrialisation and could exploit it with a strong partnership with investors, stressing that the country was looking forward to re-industrialisation.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Syme, for his part, urged the investors not to consider the southern part of the country for investment, but the northern part as well.
He said the northern part of the country had vast lands, abundant sunshine for solar energy and also shared borders with some African countries, making trading with neighbouring countries easier.
Indian High Commissioner
The Indian High Commissioner in Accra Mr Jeeva Sagar, in his remarks, said India recognised the close ties between the two countries, adding that his country was fully aware of the strength of the Ghana’s institutions and its dynamism.
He also said the economy was strong and enduring, considering the fact that it was a growing one.
“Ghana’s democratic credentials, with respect to the 2012 election petition, exhibited the country’s political stability and understanding of democracy,” Mr Sagar said.
He added that the peace and political stability in the country, coupled with the abundance of human and natural resources, were what attracted the Indian delegation to visit the country and look for business opportunities.
Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the Association of Ghana Industries personnel at the forum gave an overview of industrial operations in the country.