The Minister for Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has called on Chinese investors to partner with Ghana to increase their investment engagements with Africa.

According to him, Ghana is strategically positioned at the center of the world and serves as the headquarters of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat. This makes the country the preferred investment destination and gateway to access other African, EU, and US markets, and beyond.

He has advocated for Ghana and China to explore new avenues for economic cooperation to strengthen the commercial partnership between the two countries.

The Minister, during an official visit to China, highlighted Ghana’s coordinated policies aimed at maximizing entrepreneurial skills for both local and foreign investors.

He emphasized that "Ghana is driven by a renewed sense of urgency and purpose, and we more prepared than ever to collaborate for mutual prosperity. With the commencement of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area, Ghana is well-positioned as a gateway to the broader African market."

The Minister invited Chinese investors to take advantage of Ghana's thriving sectors such as manufacturing, textiles, automotive, industrial parks, e-commerce, ICT, mining, energy, agriculture, real estate, road construction, and financial services. These sectors, he mentioned are supported by an aggressive industrialization drive that creates a conducive environment for business.

During their visit to Beijing, the Minister and the delegation visited key institutions such as the Beifang International Teaching Aids R&D Institute, which holds thousands of national patents and provides customized solutions for training rooms in the automobile industry.

With 100 branches across China and strategic partnerships with leading companies, Beifang expressed interest in collaborating with Ghanaian institutions to offer technical training to Ghana’s automobile industry. The Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and other Ghanaian officials were also part of the delegation.

The delegation encouraged Beifang to establish a training institute in Ghana, to which the institute expressed readiness to work with Technical Universities in Ghana to establish similar centers.

Additionally, the delegation visited Zhejiang Free Trade Zone National Lead Import and Export Co. Ltd to discuss potential involvement in Ghana's oil sector.

The company expressed interest in financing the development of an industrial park in Ghana, with the potential to attract Chinese companies as anchor tenants. Positive responses were received regarding their interest in the Greater Kumasi project, prompting further direct engagement.