AGI lauds assistance of Foreign Ministry to INDUTECH 2005

Accra, Dec. 30, GNA - The Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI) on Thursday lauded the assistance offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country's embassies abroad in whipping up interest of foreign firms to elicit their participation in the Sixth Ghana Industry and Technology Exhibition (INDUTECH 2005) scheduled for March.

Mr Cletus Kosiba, Exhibition Director, told a press briefing in Accra that with the tremendous support the marketing of the fair had so far received from the Foreign Ministry, it was set to exceed the initial target of attracting about 60 foreign participants.

He said already the Association had received firm commitments of participation from 60 companies in China and others from Belgium, India and Brazil.

Firms from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including those from Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso, have pledged their participation in the exhibition slated for March 3 to March 14 2005. Mr Kosiba said direct approach was also being made to local companies to get them to participate in the Fair.

"Considering the level of response we are getting from local companies, we are sure of getting not less than 500 for the exhibition." INDUTECH 2005 would be held on the theme: "Transforming Ghana's Industrial Sector Through Information and Communication Technology" to create an opportunity for ICT companies to showcase and demonstrate their potentials in both software and hard infrastructure and how this could assist industrialists to improve upon their operations. Mr Kosiba said an ICT Village would be established at the fair grounds to enable the companies to mount demonstration shows for industries, students and the public.

There would also be National Days for Ambassadors and High Commissioners of participating foreign companies to showcase their countries.

Days would be set aside for the various regions in the country to display their culture, sell their investment and tourism potentials. Companies in the agro-processing, clothing and textiles, metals and fabrications, wood and joinery, among other things, would participate in the Exhibition.