The Deputy Trade Minister, Michael Okyere Baafi, has urged members of the India Africa Trade Council (AITC) to embrace Ghana’s flagship industrialisation programme, the One District One Factory (1D1F).
He said the doors of the government would always be open to investors, saying the government would always support investors.
Mr Baafi made the pledge during the maiden IATC Trade summit held in Accra.
He said there were so many opportunities in the 1D1F for Indian company to expand their business portfolios.
The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, for his part pledged his support to the programme.
He said he was excited about Ghana hosting the West and Central Africa headquarters of the Council.
The Ga Mantse expressed his gratitude to the IATC for selecting Ghana as its headquarters for the West and Central Africa Regions.
The Global President of IATC, Dr Asif Iqbal, was in Ghana to attend the summit and to also present to Dr James Gnanaraj Rajamani, his letter of credence, confirming his appointment as the Chairman of IATC West and Central Africa.
Mr Iqbal was accompanied to Ghana by his vice, Mr Wali Kashvi and Trade Commissioner of Telanga State, India, Krishna Vamsi.
In his address at the summit, Dr Iqbal admonished businessmen and women to take advantage of international trade liberalisation policies to ensure effective growth of the business communities.
On his part, Dr James Rajamani assured of his readiness to live up to his responsibilities in coordinating the activities of the Central and West Africa sub- regions.
The three management directors of IATC were presented with certificate of recognition from IATC Global Head Office based in India.
They are: Dr Immanuel Rajamani, Executive Director, International Protocol; Neelesh Bhatia, Executive Director, Finance and Administration; and Mr Peter Mensah, Executive Director, Operations and Corporate Affairs.
The summit attracted several key personalities from industry, the diplomatic community, government, religious leaders, traditional leaders and the security agencies.
In attendance were: the Board Chairman of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Kwame Acheampong Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone, Dr Memunatu Pratt; the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Major General Nicholas Peter Andoh; the Ahafo Regional Minister, George Boakye; Bono East Regional Minister, Akwasi Adu Gyan; member of the Board of IATC and the Chief Executive Officer of the EIB Network, Mr Nat Adisi (Borla Ray); as well as some selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
The idea of India Africa Trade Council came about in 2020 during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
IATC is a non-governmental organisation established in consultation with the various heads of Trade bodies in Africa and the presidents/representatives and professionals of repute from the entire Indo-African region.
It was formed with a view to giving the business communities of both India and Africa a voice and a tool to foster development.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
