Vision 2020 trade targets would be achieved

Accra, March 20, GNA - Mr Kwasi Wiafe Peperah, a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, on Monday told Parliament that Ghana would achieve the target of 12 billion dollars expected from non-traditional export sector by 2020.

He said the ministry through its gateway project is creating an enabling business environment that is efficient enough to reduce the cost of doing business and promoting export competitiveness in the country.

Mr Peperah was moving for the approval of the Ministry's 2000 budget that stands at 71.8 billion cedis. Ghana government is contributing 19.8 billion cedis whilst the remaining 52 billion is to be provided by the donor community.

He said Ghana was listed among the first ten countries out of 184 countries that achieved the most significant growth rates in export performance in fresh food and agro-based products during 1994-98.

The Deputy Minister announced that government, private sector and the labour front have developed a special partnership that would through constant interactions, consultations develop national strategies to face the challenges of globalisation, trade liberalisation, privatisation and regionalism, which the nation needs to face with a united front.

Mr C. O.Nyanor, NPP-Upper Denkyira, criticised the Ministry for not having any reliable database that could aid the proper evaluation and monitoring of the sector.

He asked the Ministry to help the private sector take advantage of the country's capital market to expand its base. The member said the ruling party has not done enough to help the trade sector because it has never been able to record surplus in the country's balance of trade.

Dr Kwabena Adjei, the Majority Leader, blamed the mistakes of past regimes for the problems that the Ministry is facing. He said even the location of industries in the past was done more for political reasons than that of strategic realistic economic reasons.

The Leader said government needs some time to make a complete progress in the sector because turning around an economy takes time. Mrs Gladys Asmah, the Deputy Minority Leader, said she is glad that finally members of the ruling government have realised that every government needs time to implement its programmes.

" If Limann had been allowed ten years, he would have done a lot" She called for the revision of Vision 2020 "since as it stands now, its target could not be achieved".

A report read by Mr Modestus Ahiable on behalf of the committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, called for the early passage of the Export Development and Investment Fund Bill to take advantage of the budgetary allocation made for the establishment of its secretariat.

It asked the Ministry of Finance to provide funds to the Ghana Standards Board to settle its utility bills. The House approved the budget with a "yes" voice vote.