Regional conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership opens

Accra, June 3, GNA - Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry on Thursday asked investors to see Ghana and other countries in the sub-region as good investment destinations where they could exploit opportunities.

She said the period of conflicts and political upheavals were over making the sub-region and Africa the right environment for investment. Ms Tetteh was speaking at the opening session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Exim Bank Regional Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership in Accra.

The annual conclave, which started in 2005, has become a medium for Indian and African policy makers, corporate leaders and academics to converge to share knowledge and network for collaborative businesses. The Ghana event is collaboration between the Association of Ghana Industries and CII.

Over 44 participants from telecommunication, agriculture, infrastructure and heavy machinery sectors, from India are attending to explore business opportunities with their counterparts from countries in the West African sub-region. Ms Tetteh said sharing knowledge and technology was the best way to accelerate economic development since that would allow countries to go beyond dependence on export of primary commodities and diversify to manufacturing. She lauded objectives of the conclave, saying it could help move the continent forward and appealed to prospective investors to invest in varied environments. Gilbert Hounghou, Togolese Prime Minister, said every effort should be made to sustain the partnership through developing capacity to assume development and build local ownership of projects. "The partnership must be action-oriented and results based," he said. Mr S. Kuppuswamy, Leader of the Indian delegation, said the conclave had helped to build bridges between Indian businesses and their African counterparts. He said it was a lasting partnership not only based on commercial interest but on a shared vision of mutual attitude to develop and succeed. "Partnership growing from strength to strength with focus fully fixed on education, innovation and entrepreneurship designed to enhance growth and employment," he said. 3 June 10