Finland trade delegation lauds Ghana’s business environment

Accra, Feb. 6, GNA – The Finnish Business Council, West Africa (FBCWA), on Monday lauded Ghana’s business environment, which according to the group hinged heavily on proactive investment laws, political stability, security and strategic government policies.

Ms Tuuli Saarela, FBCWA Director, commended government for consistently creating conducive investor environment to attract more technology as well as capital into the country.

"Finnish business people are not only coming to trade, but also bringing know-how technology as well as capital, to share with the Ghanaian business community and entrepreneurs on the win-win basis," she said to introduce an advance team of Finnish Business delegation to the media in Accra.

The Finland trade led by Finnish Under-Secretary of State Mr. Esko Hamilo marks a reciprocal visit of Ghanaian Government’s delegation to Helsinki Finland in September 2011.

The Finnish business delegation include representatives of companies with household names such as Nokia, less well-known giants such as Metso and smaller companies with innovative new products such as Cold Cargo Solutions (CCS).

Ms Saarela said Finland: "seek cooperation with Ghanaian investors in its broad sector including agriculture, forestry, housing, construction, service industry, oil and energy sector, other business entities in the country.

"A lot of foreign investors are showing in interest in Ghana now. Ghana is the most visible country in Africa…Finns are impressed with the massive growth of the Ghanaian economy this year and are finally looking at Ghana as a developing market with true potential, some for the very first time".

Mr Kalevi Tervanen, of Procope and Hornborg, Finland, told journalists that Ghana had been recognized as one the world’s fastest growing economies; “these positive economic signals have gradually directed the world’s investor community towards doing business in Ghana.

“We are here to do business not to engage in talk, talk, but to initiate positive ventures which would yield positive results for both countries, and so far our feasibility studies indicate that Ghana is ready for business”.

He said Ghana stands at the periphery of becoming West Africa’s business hub, “a giant economic destination to link-up other business ventures in the region to the rest of the world mainly due to its stability, systems that deals with corruption and security of investments”.

Mr Tervanen, who is a Strategic Business Advisor, noted that Ghana and Finland shared a lot in common as recently Ghana has emerged as Finland’s economic partner.

Mr Marko Sorri, Business Development Director of the CCS, introduced journalists to a new packaging system, which allows unbreakable cold chain transportation without any external energy.

He said due to the great isolation capacity combined with the patented cooling element, the CCS was able to maintain the right temperature during transportation, storage and delivery.

Mr Sorri said the system: "is automatically monitored online to keep records of the continuous temperature level and warns if the temperature goes close to critical limits".

The CCS system includes transportation module, medical module, cooling element, monitoring system.

Ms. Saarela and her lead partner Procope & Hornborg Law Firm, assists Finnish companies to set up locally, offering business development services and advice on Ghanaian business practices.

The Finnish Business Council is an independent network of professionals and companies, who want to participate in building awareness about Finland and Finnish companies in West Africa.

Ms Saarela said:"Our organization provides a platform where dialogue is facilitated between companies, individuals and institutions interested in business opportunities between Finland and West Africa.”

Caption:

2617 – from left to right Mr Kojo Osae Addo, a Financial Consultant; Ms Saarela Director of Finnish Business Council West Africa; Mr Kalevi Tervanen, Strategic Business Advisor and Mr Marko Sorri CCS Business Development Director.