Koforidua Oct. 30, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, has challenged financial institutions to help provide job opportunities in the area, by investing their capital into viable ventures.

He noted that, apart from the Hospitality industry, the area lacks job opportunities and urged that they channel their funds into agro-business and processing.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo was receiving officials of Venture Capital Trust Fund, in his office, in Koforidua, on Friday. He urged the company to look at areas where they can invest and generate employment.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo advised the company to channel their resources into housing in the new Juaben Municipality to help arrest the accommodation problems facing workers.

Mr Daniel Duku, Chief Executive Officer of the company, told the regional minister that they were in the region to assist small-scale industries and farmers and also to educate and inform the public on how to access their funds. He said their emphasis would be on Tourism, saying that, "We want to promote tourism in the region". Mr Duku said the company had funds for real estate development and urged the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to access it. He said the company had enough money for lending and that, unlike the commercial banks, they have a simple procedure in accessing funds. 30 Oct. 10