Roads Minister leaves for China

Accra, May 10, GNA - Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways has left Accra for China, at the head of a 30-member delegation of the Association of Road Contractors of Ghana (ASROC), on a two-week Trade and Investment Mission. The visit, which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Roads and Highway, is within the framework of the New Strategic Partnership of the China Africa Forum on Co-operation.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency at the Kotoka International Airport before departure, Mr Gidisu said the visit coincided with an on-going exhibition in China to highlight such core areas of the road sector such as the right methods of construction, standard equipment for construction, among several others. He said the trip was to expose local road contractors to the international world and help build their capacity, adding that, this would better equip them to contribute to the general growth and development of the country.

The Minister said there was also the potential of exposing the contractors to credit facilities on an international level, which was most crucial to their trade. Mr Gidisu said the Ministry's support to ASROC was in line with the government's policy to assist local road contractors to become more competitive and effective in contributing towards growth in the road sector.

Mr Ebow Hewton, Vice Chairman of ASROC, said the delegation would take advantage of the exhibition to examine and learn more about standard equipment and also, visit manufacturers of such equipment and to urge them to establish some outlets in Ghana. He said ASROC was very pleased with the initiative by government, since it brightened their prospects for the future. 10 May 09