Ghana, Thailand Discuss Economic Collaboration

ACCRA, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana and Thailand can assist each other in their Gateway Programmes through increased trade, technical co-operation, joint venture projects and direct foreign investment, the deputy prime minister of Thailand, Supachai Panitchpakdi, said Friday.

The deputy prime minister was holding discussions with Joseph Owusu-Acheampong and Dan Abodakpi, food and agriculture and trade ministers respectively.

Discussions centred on investment opportunities in rice and mushroom production for local and sub-regional markets, cotton, textiles and cocoa trade as well as in the tourism, services and marine sectors.

Panitchpakdi, who is leading an eight-member commercial delegation on a day's official visit, said his mission is also to thank Ghana for its support during his campaign for the top seat of the World Trade Organisation.

The deputy prime minister has been elected as the director general of WTO and will assume office in two years.

He said Thailand decided to diversify its market after the economic crisis in Asia two years ago and Ghana had been identified as a major partner in Africa.

"Your country is strategically placed in West Africa and...we can, therefore, collaborate effectively for the mutual benefits of our Gateway programmes," he told the ministers.

"We are here to sincerely express our seriousness to expand economic and trade relations with Ghana and we look forward to new opportunities exceeding over 100 million dollars a year," he added.

He said apart from the agricultural sector, services and manufacturing, Thailand is well advanced in its tourism business with consistent growth of 10 percent in tourist arrivals.

"We have been fortunate enough to mobilise resources to develop this sector which is a major foreign exchange earner apart from electronics. Last year we had 8.5 million tourists, this year we are expecting 10 million. We can, therefore, assist you to develop your infrastructure," he explained.

Owusu-Acheampong emphasised Ghana's desire to be self-sufficient in rice production, saying facilities, incentives and the environment were available to achieve this.

He said while Ghana continues to buy rice from Thailand in the interim, experts from that country can assist to raise production levels to serve the sub-region.

He commended Thailand for its resilience in pushing its economy forward and said mushrooms and other non-traditional exports and irrigation schemes could be explored.

Abodakpi said Ghana would no longer allow itself to be led into a global paradigm but would like to actively participate in the process.

He talked about the Economic Recovery Programme embarked upon in the 1980s and the Trade Liberalisation Programmes, which had had both negative and positive effects.

He said Ghana moved very fast with its liberalisation programme without proper regard to sequencing.

This has virtually made the country a consuming nation and many industries were suffering, he said, adding that efforts were being made to address these problems and prevent a recurrence.

He also talked about ongoing reforms in aviation, customs, immigration, and other sectors to facilitate trade and investment.

Abodakpi said Ghana plans to establish aviation maintenance centre to serve the sub-region.