Kumasi, Sept. 22, GNA- The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President Special Initiative (PSI) is to develop a vibrant, technology-driven competitive trade and industrial sector to enable it to contribute significantly to employment creation, economic growth and reduce poverty. The realization of the goals required the full co-operation and participation of all stakeholders such as business community, trade associations and civil society organizations. Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector and PSI said this at the Trade and Industry Forum in Kumasi organized by the Ministry in Kumasi on Friday.

The function, attended by stakeholders, including artisans, mechanics, traders, small-scale industrialists and others aimed at making suggestions and inputs towards the 2008 budget. He said the government would create the enabling interventions and develop strategies and policies to create the right environment to help ensure growth and sustenance of trade and industry. Mr. Agyeman-Manu stated that the Ministry has the task of facilitating the efforts of practitioners in commerce and industrial sector towards achieving the national aspiration of becoming a middle income country. He observed that the industrial policy of the country would provide clear and transparent guidelines for the implementation of Ghana's industrial agenda and to ensure a consistent and stable environment within which the private sector could operate its industrial activities effectively and with some good level of certainty. Mr. Agyeman-Manu hoped that their contributions and suggestions would be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning as inputs to the 2008 budget statement which would be read before the end of the year.

Mr Kwame Bour, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association of Small-Scale- Industries (ASSI), stressed the need for the people to develop the interest of patronizing the made-in-Ghana goods to enable local industries to compete with the advanced countries. He appealed to the ministry to create Small Industry Service Institute (SISI) to provide wide range of consultancy training and management services to enable small-scale industrialists to expand their businesses.

During an open forum the participants appealed to the government to provide credit facilities, market training facilities for artisans and other small-scale industrialists to expand their businesses and contribute meaningfully towards the socio-economic development of the country.

Mr John W. Bello, Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions who chaired the function urged the government to set up a special fund to support the activities of the private sector to enable them to make positive contributions towards the development of the nation. 22 Sept. 07