Minister solicits Chinese support for small-scale industries

Koforidua, Oct. 30, GNA- Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Eastern Regional Minister, has enlisted the support of the China in building the capacity of Small-Scale Enterprises in the area to enable them to become sustainable modes of income generation. He said, although micro enterprises had the potential of becoming effective conduits of income generation and employment, they were nonetheless in need of investment in key areas such as capacity-building and retooling of obsolete machinery and asked for Chinese assistance in that regard.

Making the appeal during a discussion with the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Yu Wenzhe, in Koforidua, Mr Affram Asiedu appealed to the envoy to help prop-up the growth of indigenous businesses in the country as the partly hold the key to the nation's economic recovery. The meeting also dilated on how to enhance Sino-Ghana relations in the areas of educational and cultural exchanges and the issue of balance of trade between the two countries, which is now in favour of China. Mr. Affram Asiedu said the transfer of appropriate technology in the textile and garment sectors for instance, would enhance the effectiveness of local companies to compete and remain in business against the onslaught of imitated wax from foreign countries. The Regional Minister entreated the Chinese Envoy to help deal with the influx of Chinese goods on the Ghanaian market, as some of the products tend to kill local initiatives owing to the superior technical advantage available to Chinese businessmen.

He mentioned the flood of cheap imitated Kente cloth on the Ghanaian market, which he said, was 'killing' the local textile market and asked the envoy to do something about it. Mr Affram Asiedu commended Chinese companies operating in the region, especially those working on road projects for the excellent work they have executed so far and called for the sustenance of economic momentum in those areas.

Responding, Mr Yu gave the assurance that he would use his duty tour to help deepen the already cordial relationship between China and Ghana in the areas of education, and social infrastructure for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries. Mr Yu said although the two nations had accomplished a lot in the areas of political and cultural exchanges, there was the need to enhance relations further by ensuring interaction between business entities of the two nations.