Indian companies to invest in economy

A 36-member Indian Business delegation visited the country from April 10-19, 2015. The delegation comprised captains of Indian Industries from different sectors: namely health, iron and steel, cement, petrochemicals, oil and gas, paper and pulp, pharmaceuticals, sugar, food processing, textiles, power, heavy industries, mining, chemicals, bio-fertiliser, education and ICT.

The companies were representing the length and breadth of India and looking for investment opportunities in Ghana.

The delegation’s visit to the country follows a similar one by Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur to India in November last year, during which he impressed on Indian investors to come into the country and explore opportunities.

The Business delegation led by the High Commissioner of Ghana to India, Mr. Sam Pee Yalley, met with Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur; Trade and Industry Minister Mr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; Indian High Commissioner Mr. K. Jeeva Sagar; and the representatives of Investment and Business Associations in Ghana.

Furthermore, the Indian High Commissioner hosted a reception for the visiting delegation where they met representatives of Ghanaian industries.

Mr. K. Jeeva Sagar, the Indian High Commissioner, described Ghana as a friendly destination for Indian investors, and said he considers Ghana as a partner in development.

“The largest representation was from the health sector, which consisted of seven specialist doctors from “Apollo Hospital” and a representative from the multi-specialty group “Primus”. They are looking at setting up tertiary health care facilities in Ghana,” Mr. Sagar said.

He said the team came to the country to explore medium- to long-term investment, and asked them to take advantage of opportunities in the country and invest in their respective fields.

Meanwhile, Apollo Hospital has signed an MoU with the government of Ghana during the visit of Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, to India last February. Under the MoU, Apollo Hospital will provide high-end tertiary healthcare services to patients from Ghana at their facilities in India, while consultants from India will conduct specialty clinics in Ghana.

In pursuance of the same, specialist doctors from Apollo Hospital visited and set up health camps at 37 Military Hospital, Korle Bu Hospital in Accra; Komfo Anokye Government Hospital in Kumasi; and Effia Nkwata Government Hospital in Cape Coast.

The delegates from other sectors also visited different areas in Ghana to explore investment opportunities.

This is a reflection of the growing commitment -- not only at the official level but also at the corporate level to extend broad-based bilateral trade and economic ties between the two countries.