The Government of Ghana has sent out an invitation to the Italian business community to take advantage of new initiatives to invest more in Ghana.

Government also wants the Italian business community to team up with it to finance social projects.

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur threw the invitation to the Italians when Madam Emma Bonino, the Italian Foreign Minister who is on a three-nation West African tour, paid a courtesy call on him at the Flagstaff House in Accra on Monday.

Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur explained that the Government was moving focus from official development support to private sector investment to bridge the financing gaps in the delivery of social projects.

He consequently urged Italian investors and the private sector to be guided by the new developments in public sector financing and make good use of the new initiatives to form mutually beneficial businesses in Ghana.

The Vice President lauded the development support Ghana had received from Italy over the years, mentioning assistance in the construction of the Akosombo Dam, and the substantial support for capital and equipment, as well as the presence of Italian companies like AGIP in the energy sector.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur noted the consolidation of democracy in Ghana and growth in economic indicators as key factors that should encourage public private partnership for development projects and job creation in the country.

“We want you to assure your counterparts in Italy that we mean business,” the Vice President stressed.

Madam Bonino, praised the long standing relations between Rome and Accra, noting that there was a need to strengthen that cooperation which dealt with bilateral, economic and political issues.

She announced that Italy was developing the Italy-Africa co-operation under which Italy would seek the specific needs of selected African nations and chart new possibilities towards full fledged co-operation.

The Foreign Minister said her country also had new programmes for women in leadership and agri-business and food exports.

She sought the cooperation of Ghana in attempts to push for reform at the United Nations Security Council.