First Lady commissions first AGI’s office in China

The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has commissioned the first liaison office of the Association of Ghana Industry (AGI) in Qingdao, China.

The opening of the AGI office, which was facilitated by the Belt and Road Collaborative Innovative Centre (BRCIC) of China, is expected to boost Chinese investment in Ghana, especially towards the One-District-One Factory (1D1F) programme.

In her remarks, the First Lady said the opening of the office was a testimony to the good relations between the two countries, and expressed the confidence that the initiative would increase business cooperation between Ghana and China.

While encouraging the business community in Ghana to take advantage of the new office, Mrs Akufo-Addo assured them that she would always be available to provide the needed support to ensure that the initiative became successful.

Mr. James Asare Adjaye, the President of the AGI, said opening of the liaison office was part of the Association’s efforts to support Ghana´s Industrialization agenda.

He however explained that though the facility would be managed by AGI, it would be opened to all Ghanaian businesses, trade associations and state institutions.

Mr. Adjaye said that the AGI as well as the international business community, especially, the BRCIC, were enthusiastic about the 1D1F programme, therefore, opening an office in China would help “promote Chinese investment in Ghana”.

He indicated that currently, the AGI with the support of the Government of Ghana, had arranged a $2 billion turn key financial facility from the Chinese National Building Materials Company (CNBM) to support Ghanaian businesses that would operate under the 1D1F initiative.

The Chairperson of BRCIC, Ms. Zhang Lu, commended Ghana for being the first country to open a liaison office under the initiative and pledged to support the office to be successful.

The First Lady is in China as part of an eight-day visit to various parts of the country together with female business entrepreneurs from the manufacturing, cosmetic, agriculture, garments and textile and construction industries.