Port-of-Spain, Aug. 3, GNA- Ghana and the Caribbean State of Trinidad and Tobago had pledged their resolve towards the promotion of mutually beneficial- economic-trade relations through a joint Chamber of Commerce. This followed bilateral talks held between President John Agyekum Kufuor and Prime Minister Patrick Manning, in Port-of- Spain, capital city of Trinidad and Tobago. This was on the last day of the President's two-day official State visit to the country to join in the celebration of this year's Emancipation Day and also to re-new the strong ties existing between the two countries and to create new opportunities for co-operation.

Addressing Journalists after their discussions, President Kufuor, said Ghana was serious about teaming up through University faculty exchanges with Trinidad and Tobago, which has for more than 100 years been in the oil and gas production business. President Kufuor said this would help Ghana to train petrochemical experts for the country's oil industry, following recent offshore oil discovery in commercial quantities. Oil and gas account for 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 80 per cent export of the Caribbean archipelagic nation with a population of a little over one million and per capita income of 18,300 dollars.

Trinidad and Tobago boasts of a world class University faculty for the training of petrochemical experts. The President, who given red carpet welcome and treated to spectacular cultural performances, said, it was important for the Diasporean Africans to look more to Africa to sustain the unbroken bond that had existed over the past 500 years. He asked them to share in the principles and vision of the African Union (AU) to secure a dignified corner for the black race, adding "We must hold firmly together in our drive into the global village."

Mr Manning said his country was ready to share its expertise and experiences particularly in the oil and gas industry with Ghana. He paid glowing tribute to President Kufuor, describing him as "one of the more forward-looking and progressive leaders in Africa. President Kufuor who also met with the Ghanaian community asked them to ignore the negative propaganda on the internet that sought to suggest that their nation was on fire. Ghana, he said, was doing very well, combining economic progress with rapid democratization, through political tolerance and respect for individual freedoms. He noted that the free individual was more productive than the one oppressed and said this was what was helping to speed up the country's development. President Kufuor advised the Ghanaian Community to be law-abiding and be exemplary in their conduct to project a good image of Ghana. He has since arrived in London en-route to Beijing, China, to participate in the opening ceremony of the 29th Olympiad.