Ghana EXPO 2003, an exhibition of Ghanaian businesses and products, scheduled to take place in London from October 15 to 18 this year, has officially been outdoored

The exhibition, which also aims at promoting inter-regional trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, will cut across various sectors of the economy including agro-processing, transportation, mining extraction, non-traditional exports, building and construction and information technology.

The highlight of the exhibition will be a colourful durbar to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ghana. According to the organisers, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene will sit in state to receive dignitaries, exhibitors and visitors on the last day of the exhibition.

The exhibition, under the theme -"The Golden Age of Business - A reality In Ghana" is being organised by EXPO AFRICA LTD under the auspices of the Office of the President, Ghana's Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Private Sector Development and the Ghana High Commission in London. Other collaborators include the British High Commission in Accra and other business associates.

Present at the launch were Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK, who delivered the keynote address, Mr Kwame Opoku Afriyie and Mr. Kwabena Afriyie Asamoah, Chairman and Director respectively of EXPO AFRICA LTD.

Others included Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner; Mrs Marian Osei, wife of the Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK; Mr. Appiah-Donyina, Trade Counsellor at the Ghana High Commission; Mr. Rodger Slape, a member of British Executive Services Overseas ( BESO) and representatives of British companies with links in Ghana.

Launching the programme, Mr. Isaac Osei, said "Ghana Expo 2003 captures the vision of the government of Ghana since it seeks to complement government's efforts to attract investments to Ghana".

He said the government had always had the conviction that the extensive involvement of the private sector in the economy of the country was very crucial to Ghana's development and added that it was within that framework that President J.A.Kufuor declared the Golden Age of Business during his inaugural address in January 2001.

The government, he said, was improving its institutional capacities through the building of the supporting infrastructure and the creation of an enabling environment to attract foreign direct investment as a complement to local investment.

He said the bold steps the government had taken so far in the pursuit of prudent fiscal and tight monetary policies had been guarded by the principle that there was an important linkage between good governance and the achievement of sustainable levels of economic growth and development.

Mr Osei said" the government is working very hard to ensure that democracy is strengthened in Ghana" and praised the media for its contribution in ensuring good governance.

" In exposing irregularities in the system and regularly discussing national issues, the press has become an important partner, helping government to apply the principles of good governance to ensure accountability," he said.

High Commissioner Osei also talked on various investment opportunities in the country and invited investors to take advantage of existing opportunities.

Mr. Owusu Afriyie said the exhibition would draw hundreds of exhibitors and business delegates to sample the best from Ghana and to explore the vast investment opportunities in the country.

He added that the event would also provide unique opportunities for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to meet with their counterparts from Europe, Asia and America for business transactions and interactions.

He said besides the exhibition there will be a series of business fora to address issues such as the Ghana Gateway concept, investment guarantees, incentives and benefits in Ghana, the internet development growth and its future potential for the country.

He was optimistic that Ghana Expo 2004 would achieve its objective of presenting Ghana as a trade and investment gateway to the West African sub-region.

In a message in a commemorative brochure for the launch, Mr Osei described Ghana Expo 2003 as " timely,"

"It is coming on at a time that the government of the New Patriotic Party has taken gigantic steps towards the creation of an enabling environment for the growth of the private sector in the country" the High Commissioner added.

He said the government was encouraged by trends in the private sector and would not relent in its efforts to make the sector the cornerstone for the overall development of the country.

In their endorsement messages, Dr. K.K. Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry and Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister for Private Sector Development affirmed their commitment and support for the noble ideals of Ghana Expo 2003.

The two Ministers congratulated EXPO AFRICA's initiative and expressed the hope that the exhibition would be a rewarding experience to all participants