Haruna pledges gov’t support to foreign investors

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, said government will support foreigners who invest in Ghana to boost the economy and create jobs for the people.

He said: “The country is looking for investment in infrastructure: including energy, health facilities, commercial markets and reconstruction of trade fair sites, roads and establishment of industrial zones (parks)."

A statement signed by Nana Akrasi Sarpong, Acting Director of Communications and Public Affairs, copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, said Mr. Iddrisu made the remarks when he visited Turkey from the 30th of July to 2nd August following President John Mahama ’s business trip to that country earlier this year.

Mr. Iddrisu was accompanied by Mr. Seth Adjei-Baah, President of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr Johnson Adasi, Director of Industry at the Ministry; and Dr. John-Hawkins Asiedu, an official at the Export Trade Division of the Ministry.

The delegation met Turkey’s Minister of Science, Industry and Technology, Nihat Ergun; officials of the Ankara Chamber of Industry; Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock; Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Test Centre of Turkey; and the MNG Group of Companies.

Mr. Iddrisu said his tour was at the instance of the Ankara Chamber of Industry, a Turkish Government-subvented Institution that receives support and orders from government toward development of the Turkish economy.

He said the Government of Ghana is looking for concessionary loans to execute some projects -- adding that the Public Private Partnership initiative will be pursued.

Mr. Iddrisu recalled the healthy relationship between the two nations and called for improvement in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to boost trade in Ghana.

He pledged to work with Ergun to increase trade transactions between the two nations to a billion dollars per annum.

Mr. Iddrisu requested the Turkish authorities to offer training opportunities to Ghanaian standard officers.

The Minister praised Alhaji Abass, Ghana’s Ambassador to Turkey, for enhancing economic diplomacy, and said plans are advanced for Ghana to post a Trade and Investment Officer to the Mission.

Alhaji Abass briefed Ghana’s delegation about the contribution of the Ankara Chamber of Industry toward the establishment of Ghana’s Mission in Turkey.

He advocated the posting of a Trade and Investment Officer to Ghana’s Mission to facilitate trade and investment activities.

Mr. Guven Balkan, Vice President of MNG Group of Companies, told the Ghanaian delegation that the company deals in construction and contracting; energy; cargo airline; aircraft repairs, overhauling; hotelier and hotel services; finance and media.

He said the company has branches in Algeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Unite Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Georgia; has a total operating capital of US$520million; and has completed projects worth US$617billion to date.