Forum on Business development in AOB district

Breman Asikuma (C/R) March 15, GNA-Participants at a business development forum at Breman Asikuma have identified pepper as a product that have market for both local and foreign markets and have therefore recommended it to farmers to grow it on commercial scale.

The forum, which was organised by the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa (AOB) District Business Advisory Board of the National Board for Small Scale Industries was aimed at identifying a product that has the potentials of helping to improve the living standard of the people and also transform the economic situation of the district.

Among those who attended the forum were traditional rulers, Assembly Members, farmers, artisans, Civil servants, NGOs and finance officers of the District Assembly.

It was sponsored by the Japan International Co-operation Agency Speaking at the forum, Dr. Francis Kusi, Director of Finance and Investment at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Private Sector and Presidential Special Initiative, said government's vision for the nation by the years 2015 was to create sustainable economic development for the people.

He said in this regard, government, among other policies, is trying to reduce interest rates, facilitating access to credit for the private sector and creating the enabling environment for the growth of business. Mr. Adakwa Peprah, Central Regional Manager of National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) underscored the importance of developing the capacity of the people so that they could harness the resources in their various communities for development.

Silk Grunow, Advisor on Local Governance Support Programme of the German Development Services (DED) in the Central Region provided information on the support available for the development of the district and appealed to the participants to take advantage of them.