Government would from 2014 start the implementation of a district industrialization programme to pave the way for the establishment of industries.

Mawuena Trebarh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), disclosed this in a speech read on her behalf on Thursday in Accra during the celebration of Ghana National Day in the ongoing 7th ECOWAS Trade Fair.

According to her, the programme would help create jobs for the unemployed youth as well as generate money for the state.

She said GIPC had put in place sound incentives and a guarantee to protect investors and urged them to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in the country.

Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, in a speech read on his behalf, said Ghana has increased its export trade with countries in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said unlike previous years when Ghana’s export trade with the European Union (EU) was 60 per cent, the situation had changed.

Ghana’s export trade with members in the ECOWAS sub-region is now 31.8 per cent and is almost at par with that of EU which has reduced to 34.2 per cent, he indicated.

The fair, which has recorded 690 participants from member countries, is a manifestation of their zeal to ensure regional integration and achieve the aims and objectives of ECOWAS, he said.

The minister emphasized that Ghana would join other member states to ensure the implementation of common external tariffs, as well as the trade liberalization scheme to allow the free transport of goods in the sub-region.

Commending the ECOWAS Commission for implementing policies and regulations geared towards promoting regional integration, he said there were many investment opportunities in the oil and gas, housing and property development, energy, road, tourism and the service sectors.