Business News of Thursday, 28 April 2005

Source: GNA

South Africa observes Day with exhibition

Accra, April 28, GNA - South African Companies have mounted an exhibition of their products at the Crystal Royale Hotel in Accra as part of activities marking that country's 11th National Day. The exhibition is showcasing South African products and services that are available in Ghana and exposing South Africa businesses to the Ghanaian community as well as making Ghanaians aware of the growing relationship between the two countries.

Opening the exhibition, Mr Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative, called on foreign investors in the country to help local exporters to identify export opportunities abroad.

He said the Government was concerned about increasing investment in Ghana because of the impact that it would have on job creation. He urged Exhibitors, who had already made investments in Ghana, to identify even more investment opportunities and to convince others to come and do business in Ghana.

Mr Baah noted that South African investment cut across a wide spectrum of business activities in Ghana including mining, banking, building and construction, ICT and general trading. He said the number of South African companies present in Ghana showed a steady increase of trade between the two countries. "We need to do a lot more to address the issue of trade imbalances. It is our belief that Ghanaian products like textiles, timber, cocoa and palm products should find their way to the South African market." The companies taking part in the exhibition include those in aviation, banking, insurance, mining, railway, retail, petroleum, broadcasting and hospitality.