The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is liaising with an Indian business association – the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) – toward the establishment of industry-specific common facility centres to support the country’s industrialisation efforts.

The centres, which will take the form of joint venture, will be equipped with state of the art industrial machinery that offer services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a cost-effective structure.

According to the AGI, the broader benefit of this partnership will be the transfer of technology and expertise that is much needed to push the country’s industrial revolution and cushion the socio-economic transformation.

President of the AGI, Dr. Yaw Adu Gyamfi who announced this at a Ghana-India Business Forum in Accra said: “Only technology-transfer can help the country toward achieving a Ghana beyond aid; we believe that our collaboration with Indian businesses and trade organisations will open new doors of opportunities for industrialising the economy.

“As industrialists, we are optimistic that technology-transfer from India can facilitate growth of the economy and the AGI therefore avails itself as a mediator for this process which will be of immense benefit to the private sector.”

The 11-member Indian business delegation represented business in various sectors – including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, seeds, breweries, steel and white goods (fridges, washing machines etc.) – are in the country to explore opportunities and forge strategic partnerships with local businesses.

Dr. Adu Gyamfi said the delegation’s visit will help to strengthen cooperation in technology-transfer and business promotion between members of the AGI and their Indian counterparts.

“The AGI is pushing beyond business-to-business meetings and the usual networking opportunities in a way that will result in the advancement of shared knowledge and transfer of technology,” he added.

The forum was part of line-up activities for the six-day visit of the Indian business delegation, which also include visits to key business promotion institutions and government agencies such as the Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB), the One District One Factory Secretariat, and the AGI Secretariat.

President of CMIA, Kokil Prasad Laxmikant, in his remarks expressed his outfit’s readiness to help develop the country’s entrepreneurial space with innovative measures and systems which have worked for Indian businesses.

“By our expertise, we will help to relieve the pain of Ghanaian businesses through the provision of end-to-end solutions in technology transfer.

“We also plan to leverage energy conservation efforts to enable local industry and businesses to cut down on their electricity cost,” he indicated.

Mr. Kokil further assured of strong collaboration with the AGI to help encourage aspiring and young entrepreneurs through entrepreneurship development programmes comprising design-thinking workshops, idea-pitching trainings, and access to finance.

Chief Executive Officer of the AGI, Seth Twum Akwaboah, highlighted the good relations between the AGI and Indian businesses over the years, which he said has made them key partners to the association’s success story.

He added: “Indian businesses are noted for their manufacturing capacities and they have a lot to share; this relationship is being taken to a higher notch with this partnership with the CMIA.

“Collectively, we can move it to higher levels and work together to develop good businesses in the country. The AGI will continue to champion advocacy, business promotion and networking sessions to push the activities of its members.”