Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - The First Pan-Africa Trade Fair and Investment Conference opened in Accra on Monday, with a call on the business community in Africa to see the event as the link to partner Africa with the rest of the world.

This is because Africa has so much to offer in terms of opportunities for trade and other business interactions, Ms Lydia Yahaya, Chief Executive of Liego Company Limited, said in Accra.

The weeklong fair on the theme: "Uniting Africa through Trade," is being organised by Liego Company Limited, Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Ghana Free Zones Board, Ghana United Nations Association and Emirate Business Forum.

Topics to be discussed include, creating an appropriate environment for investors seeking opportunities in Africa and Developing National Maritime Policy as a Tool for Economic Development.

Others are Energy Efficiency Initiatives in Ghana, The Volta River Authority Experience; Investing Opportunities in Africa (Technology Agric and Agro-processing); Free Movement of People across African Boarders - an Instrument for Trade and Business Promotion; and Redefining the African Foreign Policy Trade and Investment.

Ms Yahaya said the fair was also a message that Africa was ready to do business with the world.

"Africa is ready to pull out of the donor recipient continent impression and to tell the world that we have something to offer." She urged participants to use the fair as a platform to formalise mutually beneficial relationships and to establish effective linkages that would grow their businesses and promote healthy interactions.

Ms Yahaya said: "We will continue to provide this platform on an annual basis to serve the same purpose and hope that we will grow in size to achieve greater world and continent participation."

Mr Jean Pierre Gibikpi-Bennisah, Togolese Ambassador in Ghana, who opened the fair, said the West African sub-region was the true gateway to Africa since Ghana, which had been tagged the Gateway to Africa, was located in West Africa.

"This gateway was the one through which we encourage and accept partnerships with investors both in Africa and the world," he said. Mr Gbikpi-Bennisah said it was also a gateway through which our local businesses would be assisted to showcase themselves to the world. He expressed the hope that participants would benefit from the mutual exchange of business and development ideas.