A business meeting involving Ghanaian and Italian entrepreneurs resident in Italy together with Italians having investments in Ghana has been held in the Italian capital Rome. The seminar arranged by Ghanacoop, a business entity born out of the Ghana Association in Modena, Italy, was brought together as part of the final activity in commemoration of Ghana’s 50th year Independence anniversary celebration in Italy. It was an effort to form a Ghana-Italy Chamber of Commerce, to help promote trade in Ghana and to encourage Italians intending to invest in Ghana.

Speaking before the participants, Ghana Ambassador to Italy, His Excellency Charles Agyei-Amoama, said Ghana in 2007 became a model for the World Bank and a yardstick to others when she attained a B+ rating within the international financial arena. “In October this year”, he noted, “Ghana successfully entered the international capital market with the acquisition of 750 million US dollar Eurobond. It was the first of its kind in south Sahara Africa and the 4th in Africa after Morocco, Egypt and South Africa”.

According to Ambassador Agyei-Amoama, Ghana has reformed and improved its financial and banking sector, an efficient stock exchange, off-shore banking and corporate loans among others. The country, he observed, also boast of improved infrastructure including good roads and industrial free zone to site factories for export with an incentive of non-restriction in repatriation of profit and tax concessions as well as the existence of skilled and standard labour which is relatively cheap compared to International standards. “We have a matured labour movement which respects employers- workers Agreements,” adding that Ghana is a signatory of International Business Disputes and Arbitration Agreements.

The Head of the Ghana Embassy in Rome also stated in his address that the vibrant economic sector coupled with the stable economic climate in Ghana, that is, the existence of democracy, good governance, rule of law, human rights, free speech, vibrant and free mass media make any investments in Ghana worthwhile, profitable and secured. “Indeed, there’s evidence that returns on investments in Ghana and a number of African countries are higher than in Europe and America”, he pointed out. He told the participants these modest achievements should be sustained and built on and that the Ghana Embassy in Rome believes that seminars of this nature are the key to meeting that goal. “For this reason, I wish to assure all those that are desirous in doing business in Ghana that the doors of the Mission are open for any business advice and discussions and that the Mission is also ready to respond to any invitation to visit companies, factories or offices for any discussion of mutual interest,” he said.

The seminar whilst encouraging Italians and other foreign nationals to invest in Ghana also urged them to consider taking advantage of some of the benefits in forming partnerships with Ghanaian counterparts. Investors in Ghana it was stressed should also look at adding value to turning Ghana’s cocoa premium into many chocolate products. Other areas mentioned were adding value to agricultural products in areas such as fruit juices, tomatoes, palm-oil among others.

The meeting also touched on Real Estate for both residential business facilities, and energy with the discovery of crude oil in Ghana. Also mentioned was tourism and provision of tourism infrastructure, railway for both passengers and goods.

Presentation was also made by Tana Anglana – Project Manager of International Organisation for Migration (I.O.M.), Yaovi Apotovi – Dealer in Documentations and Certificates for final third parties, Ms. Adelaide Boateng-Siriboe on Trade Promotion and Investment in Ghana with emphasis on Agricultural, Thomas McCarthy –President of Ghanacoop, Peter Owusu – Travel Agent Operator in Modena, Adjeikwei Adjei – President of Africa and Italy Humanitarian Organisation (AIHO), Adu Sarkodie – owner of a business co-operative in Parma and Dr. Bertozzi Marco – Technical Manager of Jesolo Estate Limited, who are in Real Estate Development business currently building residential estates and holiday resorts near Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana.

Ambassador Agyei-Amoama promised to accompany some of the investors to Ghana where necessary when the participants were given time for questions and make some contributions.