Dubai Expo 2020: Importers and Exporters Association bemoan government’s failure to exhibit opportunities in maritime industry
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has described as disappointing, government’s failure to include the maritime industry in its array of trade clusters to be showcased at this year’s Dubai Expo 2020.
The Association’s comments follows a recent press briefing held by the Ministry for Information at which Deputy Trade Minister, Herbert Krapa, listed the cluster of businesses government intends exhibiting to investors at the Expo.
According to the Deputy Minister, government will be exhibiting investment opportunities in the area of trade and investment, banking and finance, infrastructure and telecommunications technology, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, textiles and garments, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education, property, and real estate.
The Association in a press release urged the President and the Trade Ministry to include the maritime industry in the cluster of business investment opportunities in the country stating that the Tema Port for instance is of an international Port status and the MPS Terminal 3 facility can compete with any other international facility.
“There was no mention of any plans by the government to showcase our Maritime and Aviation Industry which can boast of an international Port status and also a potential Aviation which is doing so well.
“We want to believe this was an oversight on the part of the trade ministry when they availed to the press, the areas they intend to showcase. But if not, we as stakeholders in the Maritime and Trade sector, will urge the Ghanaian team led by the President and his Ministers to ensure they showcase the infrastructural improvement in our Maritime and Aviation sector including the MPS Terminal 3 and that of our Airport which could compete against any international facility.”
“It is our fervent hope that, the president HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, who would be addressing the 2020 Dubai Expo, will factor into his note the need to sell the country’s Maritime Industry which has so much potentials and the ability to attract investors into the country,” said Executive Director of the Association, Samson Awingobit.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Accra on Monday, September 27, 2021, on the country’s preparedness towards the Expo, DeputyTrade Minister Herbert Krapa said the Expo provides Ghana with a golden opportunity to showcase the country’s trade potentials, investment opportunities and tourist destinations on a global stage.
“Ghana’s participation in the Expo is intended to underscore government’s industrial transformation agenda, promote private sector businesses, and showcase our investment opportunities to attract investment into critical sectors of the economy, such as energy, trade, water and sanitation, environment, agriculture, education and tourism.
“It will also offer us an opportunity to display our rich cultural heritage, promote value addition to our abundant raw materials and highlight our friendly business climate,” he added.
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He said as part of Ghana’s exhibition content is a 200 meter-square pavilion segmented into Business Cluster, Culture Cluster and Ghana Report Zone that presents a brief overview of Ghana’s vision and plan for the future, its stable, mutual-value approach to investment, reputation as the “gateway to Africa” and commitment to a future driven by business and growth.
These Clusters, he explained, present opportunities in trade and investment, banking and finance, infrastructure and telecommunications technology, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, textiles and garments, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education, property, and real estate that investors can tap into.
Ghana’s participation theme, “Ghana: Limitless Opportunities” seeks to showcase the numerous investment opportunities in the various sectors of the Ghanaian economy for sustainable development.
For his part, CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), Yoofi Grant said for Ghana to reap the benefits of the Expo, government has earmarked key business-related activities to be undertaken as part of Ghana’s participation in the event.
He said the Planning Committee has put together a Ghana Business and Investment Forum where various investors will meet to explore areas in the Ghanaian economy that they can direct their investments towards.
Additionally, he indicated that there will be monthly presentations by experts on investment opportunities in Sanitation and Environment, Food and Agriculture, Energy, Education, Tourism, Culture and Arts, Lands and Natural Resources noting that the presentations will center on opportunities for food, agriculture and livelihood, travel and connectivity, and opportunities in knowledge and learning.