Accra, Sept. 7, GNA - Ghana is the largest recipient of grants from the Netherlands, Mr Michiel Bierkens, Charg=E9 d'Affaires at the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana, said on Friday. He said that Ghana became one of the partner countries for Dutch bilateral assistance at the end of 1990 and mentioned the environment and water, health and general budget support as the main focus of his country's aid programme, which had an annual budget of about 100 million euros.
Mr. Bierkens noted that the good relations between Ghana and the Netherlands had evolved over time and Ghana was now the main trading partner for the Netherlands in Africa explaining that the Embassy handled about 70 million euros of aid budget.
He made the statement when he represented Lidi Remmelzwaal, Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, at the opening of the new office of Ghana-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Culture (GHANECC). GHANECC is a non-profit business association that focuses on trade and business development, investment promotion and cultural understanding between the two countries.
Mr. Bierkens said the Netherlands was the first export destination for Ghana and expressed belief in Ghana's economic potentials. In 2005, the value of Dutch imports from Ghana was 239 million euros whereas the value of Dutch export to Ghana was 165 million euros, he said, and pointed out that cocoa was one of the main contributors for the trade surplus.
Mr. Bierkens noted that apart from the grants there was also the emerging markets programme where Dutch companies set up joint ventures with their Ghanaian counterparts. This project, he said, was also partly financed by the Netherlands Ministry for Development Cooperation. "It is therefore not only aid but also trade that will determine our future relationship. Private sector can be an important engine for economic growth," he said, and observed that Ghana was showcasing that economic growth was an engine of poverty reduction. While commending GHANECC for their successes, Mr Bierkens noted that the organization was well placed to further strengthen the business climate between the two countries.
Mr. Daniel Nunoo, President of GHANECC, introduced four new members of GHANECC - Donewell Insurance, Douglas Godwinson World, Midland International and Ayekoo Travel and Tours.
He also congratulated two staff of the organization, Mr. Tjalling Wialda who is leaving the organization as Project Manager and Nii Nmai Dsane, a student at the University of Economic studies, Netherlands, who got an opportunity to serve as interim project manager for the organization.
Mr. Nunoo also introduced Ms. Ilonka Omta, the new project manager who will be in office for 10 months.
Highlighting the projects that GHANECC undertook, Mr Nunoo, who is also the Managing Director of Shell Ghana Limited, said the organization was mindful of the important role the business community played in fostering trade relations between Ghana and the Netherlands. He said GHANECC had started a programme to publicize community-based eco-tourism project as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Mr Nunoo announced that GHANECC had been running courses on culture, which focused on understanding international business and inter-cultural management because awareness of cultural differences was of great importance to the success of every business.
