The Kingdom of Netherlands is working assiduously to replace the large extent aid to Ghana with trade and investment, the Deputy Ambassador to Ghana has announced.

Katja Lassuer said this has become necessary following economic growth of Ghana. Ghana recently attained a lower-middle-income country status and has to pay a price for the improved position by losing significant aid from development.

Addressing a PharmAccess Ghana Limited sponsored cocktail event hosted by the Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), Mrs Lassuer said the Kingdom of Netherlands has set a 2020 agenda to facilitate more trade and investment to Ghana with the Private sector.

She noted that judging by the economic performance of West African Country it has grown from aid to trade.

“As an embassy we are moving from aid to trade, our development cooperation programs are slowly been closed.” She added.

She however explained that the government of Netherlands has been investing in Agriculture, food, security, water and sanitation for a while but it’s slowly moving towards trade and deepening partnership with the private sector.

She said “The other existing development is our Orange Corners in the Ghana Digital Center in September. This is a program for entrepreneurs and we are looking for private sector involvement.”

She added that her Embassy has recruited a trade officer who is a dedicated go to person on trade issues in the Dutch trade network.

The glamour and style cocktail event was held on at the PharmAccess Ghana office in East Legon, Accra to strengthen ties between all members of the Netherlands African Business Council (NABC). Over 60 people including GNBCC members as well as some PharmAccess business associates were in attendance.

Addressing dignitaries from the Ghanaian and Dutch Business communities, the special guest of honour, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ghana, Katja Lassuer said the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC) represents business interests of both Ghanaian and Dutch companies and will work closely together with the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Ghana to make all their members and associates productive.

In line with its objective, Madam Lassuer said GNBCC will support corporate entities with new developments to perform their operations effortlessly by making the requisite regulatory, financial and business-related information available to them.

Country Director of PharmAccess Dr. Maxwell Antwi who was host of the cocktail event revealed that his outfit has set an ambitious goal in line with the Sustainable Development Goals to enable access to health insurance and healthcare to one hundred million people across Africa by 2025 through strategic partners.

"PharmAccess group and its sister organizations are to achieve this ambitious goal by mobilising private and public resources with the limited occupations through health insurance, access to finance through partner banks, clinical standards and impact research” He said.

He introduced the PharmAccess staff who were present and thanked all participants for attending the cocktail. It was a relaxed evening of networking and relaxation as guests were treated to an array of finger foods and drinks.