DUBAI — The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday hosted a delegation of 20 Ghanaian businessmen, as part of its efforts to reach out to the promising economies of Africa.

The group was headed by Ghana Investment Promotion Centre CEO George Aboagye, along with Ambassador of Ghana to Tehran Ahmed Hassan and Ghanaian Members of Parliament Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho and Seth Adjei-Baah.

The Ghanaian delegation, received by Rashid Humaid Al Mazroei, Board Member and Member of the Executive Committee of the Dubai Chamber, discussed the possibilities of strengthening bilateral ties as well as exploring investment opportunities for the enhancement of trade and cooperation between the two sides.

In his welcome address, Al Mazroei, highlighted Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade with Ghana which reached Dh782 million in 2009 as the country ranked 65th on the list of Dubai’s trading partners with 17 Ghanaian partnership companies operating in Dubai and registered at the Dubai Chamber.

Ghanaian industries offer great trading potential in mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminium smelting, food processing, cement and ship building and this forum will pave the way for stronger trading ties between the two countries, he said.

Al Mazroei further stressed that Dubai has been looking for enhancing trade ties with the African region and has already started the process by organizing a workshop for the members of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) in preparation of the next big Comesa Investment Forum in Dubai next year and the visit of the Ghanaian delegation will help Dubai consolidate its long-term trade ties with Ghana which is a strategic country in West Africa.