Kumasi, May 17 GNA - Mr Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, has pledged the government's unwavering commitment to grow the private sector to enable it anchor the nation's economic development.

He said operators in the sector would be given every necessary encouragement and support to expand their businesses and create jobs for the people. Mr Ayariga was addressing separate meetings with members of the Suame=

Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) and the Ghana Nation= al Association of Garages (GNAG) in Kumasi at the weekend as part of his official visit to in the Ashanti Region. He said it was important for the nation to focus on value addition to products to bring in more foreign exchange. The Deputy Minister commended SMIDO and GNAG for mobilising more than 200,000 people for skills training to help them improve on their liveliho= od. Mr Ayariga gave the assurance that the trainees would be assisted with credit facilities to boost their activities.

Additionally, Suame Magazine would be provided with the necessary infrastructure including good roads, water and a clinic. Mr George Asamoah Amankwah, President of SMIDO, said the organisation ha= d established a Technical Institute to train artisans in Information and Communication Technology, business management, and advanced automotive diagnostic and technology studies. He appealed to the government to provide the institute with computers an= d means of transport.