Indonesia businesses seek opportunities in Ghana
The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has called for closer collaboration between Ghana and Indonesia to bring about investment partnerships that can increase Ghana’s exports to that country.
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The president of the chamber, whose speech was read on his behalf by the National Treasurer, Mr Harry Mensah, at the Indonesia Business Forum in Accra last Friday, said although the trade balance was tilted in favour of Indonesia, the total value was still below the potential of both countries.
Second Indonesian Business forum
The forum was organised by the Indonesian High Commission for Nigeria and ECOWAS in collaboration with the GCCI in honour of a 15-member Indonesian business delegation, representing seven companies, which was in the country to explore business and investment opportunities.
The forum, which saw the Ambassador of Indonesia in charge of Nigeria and West Africa, Mr Harry Purwanto, tout his country’s investment and economic prospects, also saw Ghanaian trade and industry officials and members of the GCCI take turns to speak about the wonderful business opportunities the country offered.
Trade value
According to the 2013 figures from the International Centre for Trade, Indonesia exported a total of $174.5 million to Ghana, while it received $11.32 million exports from Ghana.
“A middle-income country with a growth rate of 4.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Ghana also has a wealth of natural resources, coupled with a stable political environment which makes it conducive as one of the best business hubs in West Africa,” Mr Mensah said.
Other speakers
The Indonesian Ambassador, for his part, also spelt out a number of areas that his country had mastered, such as oil and gas processing and refining, tourism, manufacturing and agro-processing.
Mr Purwanto said both countries had similar climatic conditions as well as several commonalities which could be harnessed for their benefit.
The Director of Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Anthony Nyame-Baafi, who made a presentation on behalf of the sector Minister, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, said Ghana was poised to do business with the rest of the world and was therefore implementing a number of strategies, such as the Private Sector Development Strategy, to create an enabling environment for doing business.
“Among these policies and strategies is the Private Sector Development Strategy which was developed and is being implemented to create jobs and enhance livelihoods for all,” Dr Garbrah said.
A member of the delegation, Mr Fernanda Reza, who represented decor products maker, Promosia, said the company was looking forward to setting up a representative office in Ghana.
This is the second time the archipelagic country has organised such a forum in the country as a way of pushing the frontiers of trade and investment between the two countries.
