Yoofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), says trade relations between Ghana and South Africa have always been in the deficit, with Ghana on the losing side.
The situation, he said, does not auger well for the country and has therefore put measures in place to address the numerous challenges.
Mr. Grant said this at the Ghana Trade and Investment Business seminar organized by the Ghana South Africa Business Chamber (GSABC) and hosted by the Trade and Investment Center of KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN).
“Trade relations with our counterparts from South Africa have always been in the deficits, with Ghana loosing, but as the Center repositions itself, we will work hard in addressing all these challenges such as the turnaround time of business registration, among others.”
Mr. Grant said areas of key interest to the Ghana’s development include energy generation, agric and agro-processing and tourism, among others.
He disclosed that his vision is to promote GIPC as a strategic partner in Ghana’s development drive. Towards this effort, the agency will be made a one-stop-shop for investors.
Mr. Grant said his outfit would promote the country as a world-class business investment destination and assist foreign companies to identify new markets for the establishment of their businesses.
He said the development of tools would be in line with the strategy of GIPC to showcase the country to potential investors, adding that it would be in line with the government’s policy of one district, one factory.
“The organization is dedicated to this objective and to creating an environment in the Province that is conducive to business development and attractive to investors,” Mr. Grant said.
Zamo Gwala, CEO, Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN), said his outfit is a South African trade and inward investment promotion agency established to specifically promote the Province of KwaZulu-Natal as a premier investment destination and to facilitate trade by assisting locally-based business enterprises to access international markets.
Lulama Xingwana, South African High Commissioner to Ghana, during the programme, also lauded the efforts of South African businesses in identifying opportunities in Ghana.
She called for further collaboration with Ghanaian businesses to promote intra-Africa trade as envisaged by the founders of both countries.
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