Kyerematen calls for Japanese support

Accra, Aug. 21, GNA - The Minister of Trade and President's Special Initiatives, Mr Alan Kyerematen on Thursday called for Japan's support for Ghana's new accelerated industrialization strategy.

The Minister said this at a meeting with the Japanese Ambassador, Mrs Kazuko Asai, when she paid a working visit to the Ministry to discuss Japanese assistance to the industrial sector of Ghana.

Mr Kyerematen submitted that owing to the weak economic base inherited by this government at the time it took over, it had to put in place strategies for the economy to grow and to revive industry. He said the new agenda of the Ministry is to generate economic growth through the involvement of the rural community in serious agro-business since agriculture could be promoted and sustained through industrialization.

He further explained that although the balance of payment and budgetary support from bilateral donors were to reduce poverty there was the need to create wealth through accelerated industrialization. The government has demonstrated that it has a viable industrialization programme, which when given the requisite financial support it could get the country out of Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) status.

The Minister stressed that it was "important for our development partners to review their bilateral assistance as a response to the specific needs of the government".

He, therefore, asked Japan to work together with Ghana in the implementation of the strategies.

Mrs Kazuko Asai agreed with the Minister that the rural economy should be industrialised.

She said that Japan also has a similar programme as the Rural Enterprises Development Programme that the Ministry has initiated and complimented the Minister for his sense of innovation. Present at the meeting were the two Deputy Ministers, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu and Hajia Alima Mahama.

Mr Koichi Mizushima, Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr Nobuyuki Hashimoto and Mr Shinji Obuchi, both of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), accompanied the Ambassador. 21 Aug. 03