Accra, Nov. 8, GNA - Ghana on Monday reaffirmed its faith and commitment to trade and bilateral ties with Sweden and gave an assurance to finding ways to increase and strengthen the ties for mutual benefits. Consequently, Ghana's President John Evans Atta Mills has assured the Swedish investor community of Ghana's preparedness to provide a conducive investment climate from which both nations would benefit. President Mills gave the assurance when a seven-member trade delegation from Sweden, led by Madam Ewa Bjorlyng, Swedish Minister of Trade, paid a courtesy call on him at the Osu Castle in Accra. The delegation is in Ghana to explore further areas of trade and investment cooperation between the two nations.

Ghana is an important trade partner of Sweden and takes the third position of Swedish trade with sub-Saharan Africa, with further potential to grow.

Trade between the two nations has also soared to about 30 per cent in the last three years despite the global financial crisis. President Mills extended a warm welcome to the investors, and reaffirmed the nation's relations with Sweden, particularly at a time when Government was finding ways to accelerate the nation's development. The President urged the delegation to bring Swedish expertise to bear on the nation's telecommunication and financial sectors. Madam Bjorlyng, later in a chat with newsmen, said Sweden considered Ghana an important trade partner because of its political stability, sound democratic credentials, and its development programme which was on course.

She said the delegation, which had already met with the captains of industry, would also meet with some Minister of State for investment talks.

At the meet ing was Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, with Mr Amarkai Amarteifio, Sweden's Consul General in Ghana, accompanying the Swedish delegation.