Export-Oriented Investment Opportunities abound in Ghana: GEPA tells Latvian Businesses

As part of its mandate to develop and promote the Ghanaian offer in respect of non-traditional exports (NTEs), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) joined other national trade promotion organizations (TPOs) to entice Latvian businesses to invest in Ghana. This took place during a Business Forum organized in Riga Latvia,  under the aegis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

The Forum was among others to strengthen the bilateral trade ties between the two countries and to present the opportunities that exist between the two countries.

The delegation which was led by the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway included the three main national TPOs in Ghana, GEPA, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the Ghana Freezones Authority (GFZA). Some selected Ghanaian businesses in the area of agribusiness and business support services were also included in the entourage to explore some strategic areas of partnerships and cooperation with Latvians.

In his presentation in front of the Latvian business community, the deputy CEO of GEPA Mr Samuel Dentu who led the GEPA team elucidated the Authorities mandate and its raison d’etre as well as the four main strategic areas of focus.

He outlined time series performance of the NTEs sector as well as the destination markets that consumed these products in the year 2017. Europe emerged as the market with the highest NTE earnings for Ghana, followed by  the ECOWAS.

He bemoaned the lack of extensive trade between the two countries and the need to scale it up.

His analysis to the Latvian business community delved into some key areas with significant untapped potentials that hold higher returns on investment. His advice to the Latvian businesses was simple; “come and be part of the immense success story unfolding”.

The GIPC led by its CEO Mr Reginald Harry Grant, and the Ghana Freezones Authority led by its deputy CEO, Ms Kate Djankwei Abbeo gave presentations on the investment opportunities that exist in Ghana and the options that are opened to businesses to locate in a specialized economic zone, the Freezone enclave.

A working dinner hosted by Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey for the business delegation of the Republic of Latvia was held at the Grand Kempinski Riga Hotel to climax the day. The Guest of Honor was Mr Eriks Eglitis, State Secretary of Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia. Also present was H.E. Ms Gina Ama Blay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenitpotentiary of the Republic of Ghana to the Republic of Latvia; Mr Reginald Harry Grant;  Mr Samuel Dentu; Ms Kate Djankwei Abbeo; Mr Edmond Boateng a Director of the Office of the Chief of Staff; Mr Samuel Yaw Nsiah, Director of the Europe Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana; Ms Sena Siaw-Boateng, Director of Office of the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana; Mr Louis Kwame Obeng, Minister of the Economic Affairs of the Embassy Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana in the Federal Republic of Germany amongst others.