‘African airlines hold key to integration’

Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Nii Lamptey Vanderpuye, has challenged African airlines to help speed up African integration since they play a critical role in that process.

He noted that travelling from one African country to the other for business ventures can be cumbersome as passengers sometimes have to connect flights in Europe before reaching an African country. This, he said, was hampering African integration.

He said airlines on the continent should also take up the challenge to make doing business in Africa much faster and less expensive.

Hon. Vanderpuye made these comments when the visiting Mauritius Trade delegation paid a farewell visit to him last Friday at his office.

The Deputy Minister lauded Mauritius for the significant improvement in the textile industry and said he was looking forward for greater collaboration between the two countries.

"If we trade among ourselves as a continent, we stand the chance to be the beacon of an economic giant in the world’, the Deputy Minister told the Mauritius delegation.

He said African countries require free movement of goods and services, adding that the time has come to remove all barriers that hamper African integration.

In his remarks, the Hon Xavier Luc-Vuval, Vice Prime Minister, said their visit has yielded many dividends as they have been able to successfully scrutinize Ghana's business opportunities.

The Vice Prime Minister was of the view that visa requirements for African business community should be looked at since there are a whole lot of Mauritius business community who would like to do business in Ghana but for the stringent visa requirements.

Hon Vuval was optimistic the cooperation agreement signed with the Ghanaian counterparts will work for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Ambassador Azad Dhomuu added that as a matter of urgency regional airlines should be introduced to cut the cumbersome travel arrangement which makes it a disincentive in doing business in Africa.