A 17-member Ghana Trade Mission has concluded a week-long visit to the United Kingdom. The delegation made up of representatives of different sectors of industry, was led by Nii Adama Morrison, President of the Ghana British Chamber of Ccmmerce and Industry.

The visit was sponsored by Jonmoore International, Taysec Construction, British Airways, West Africa Business Association and Trade Partners of the UK, Greenshild Cowie and EXPO Promotion.

While in the UK, the delegation visited among other places, the Chambers of Commerce at Leicester and Thames Valley the Global Trade Centre, the Mars Chocolate Confectionery at Slough, the Lincoln University Agricultural Centre and the Leicester Space Centre.

At the respective areas, members had fruitful interaction and discussions with officials on ways of exploring various business opportunities and securing markets for their products.

The highlight of the visit was a courtesy call on the Lord Mayor of Leicestershire, Councillor John Allen, who assured the delegation that Leicester would do everything possible to maintain and forge closer and beneficial relations with the Ghana-British Chamber of Commerce.

He thanked Nii Adama Morrison and the delegation for honouring the visit and presented to them a gold tie clip with the Leicestershire emblem neatly embossed in red.

The delegation later called on H E Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK, who had hosted members of the Ghana-British Chamber of Commerce to a reception at the beginning of their visit.

Present at the meeting were Mr. Asamoah Boateng of the Office of the President, Mr Kwabena Baah Duodu. Deputy High Comnissoner, Mr Eric Amenuvor, Minister? Counsellor/Trade and Mr Fritz Andoh, Minister-Counsellor/lnformation.

The delegation expressed satisfaction with the various linkages established with their British counteparts.

They also said that the visit had given them a thorough insight into the appropriate mechanisms of gaining access into the UK markets, packaging and new trends in production methods.

Advising the delegation on exports, H. E. Mr. Isaac Osei stated that there was the need for the companies to develop their capacities through product associations to enable them meet large orders from their British counterparts.

He suggested the introduction of the concept of networking within the association as it could help them resolve issues relating to large orders, pricing and keeping delivery schedules.

The High Commissioner pointed out that the appointment of a Minister for Private Sector Development underscores the importance the government attached to the private sector as the engine of growth of the Ghanaian economy and asked them to take full advantage of business opportunities in the UK.

He pledged the High Commission's readiness to help follow-up contacts and linkages initiated by the delegation and urged them to contact the High Commission when the need arises.

HE Osei was optimistic that the good beginning which had been nurtured would eventually materialise for the benefit of the nation.

Mr Asamosh Boateng emphasised the need for members of the association to work harder than before in order to meet requests for orders which would be channelled to them.

He urged them to mobilise and pool their resources together to enable them satisfy demands for large orders for agricultural produce and manufactured products.

Nii Morrison thanked the High Commission for the courtesies and assistance extended to the delegation as well as the businesslike counselling offered the group by the High Commissioner.

He described the visit as very useful and beneficial to the members who had resolved to redouble their efforts in the search for new trading partners in the UK.

Nii Morrison added that the members of the association would work assiduously towards the goals of espousing the concept of the Golden Age of Business in Ghana.- Issued by the Ghana High Commission, London