Ghana, Oakland City Cement Relations

Accra, Aug 13, - Ghana today signed an agreement with the City of Oakland, California, to establish relations in commerce, investment, technology and tourism. The partnership agreement will also cater for continual and organised participation of entrepreneurs from Ghana and Oakland City to explore business opportunities. Mr Dan Abodakpi, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, signed for Ghana while Mr Keith Carson, leader of an eight-member investment team signed for Oakland. Mr Abodakpi said with the increasing globalisation of world economies, Ghana can no longer take trade and investment promotion for granted. ''We have to consolidate the increase in flow of investments pouring into the country as a result of the improved investment environment,'' the Minister said. Mr Carson who described the agreement as ''symbolic'', said exchange of information, ideas, resources and to do business is the main concern of his team. He said members of the team from the Greater Oakland International Trade Centre (GOITC), shares Ghana's vision of becoming the gateway to the West African sub-region. The GOITC, Mr Carson said, is already involved in investment programmes in the Pacific Rim with some Asian countries and would like to enter the African market through Ghana. The parties agreed to develop a plan to promote international business objectives and programmes of their members and business communities. They will also assist each other in identifying investment and development opportunities in their regions. The agreement makes room for GOITC to provide Ghana with access to the Oakland Foreign Trade Zone, one of the world's most efficient warehousing and distribution centres. The American investors who arrived in Ghana on Sunday, are also interested in promoting activities between Ghana's harbours and San Francisco Bay Area. They have held discussions with the ministry of Roads and Transport and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority in Tema and are scheduled to visit Takoradi Harbour today. Takoradi and Oakland are twin cities.