Accra, Oct. 22, GNA - A trade delegation, made up of representatives from government institutions and private business men and women left Accra last weekend for Canada.

The institutions were the Ghana Chamber of Commence, Ghana Free Zone Board, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Excise and Preventive Service, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Association of Ghana Industries and the Mineral Commission.

The trade mission was organised by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, in partnership with the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC).

According to Mr Dela Gadzanku, Chairman of the Planning Committee, the trip would create awareness of the investment opportunities that exist and also further deepen trade relations between the two countries. "The mission would seek to encourage the formation of a strategic business alliance, joint ventures and the export of Ghanaian products to the Canadian market" he said.

Mr Gadzanku said as part of the trip, a business forum would be held for the delegation on the theme: "Investment opportunities in Ghana".

Mr Darren Schemmer, Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, said commercial relations between the two countries was growing rapidly, as Canadians learn of the expanding opportunities in Ghana and vice versa. He said his country was on track to achieving a double-digit export growth to Ghana for the fifth consecutive year, and that trade between the two countries, for the first time, was worth about $200 million. Mr Darren said Canadians have also invested more than $1 billion in Ghana, especially in the Mining, Energy, and Tourism sectors, while new opportunities were opening up in the oil and gas industries. The delegation is expected back home early next week.