GIPC to host three-day Investment Forum in Accra

Accra, April 27, GNA - The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) is to organise an investment forum from May 21-23 to enable both local and foreign investors to exploit opportunities in the diverse sectors of the economy.

The Ghana Investment Forum being held in partnership with other investment promotion agencies is on the theme: "Ghana -Africa's Golden Gateway," and is expected to bring together top level government ministers and officials, and corporate leaders from both local and international investment circles to discuss and explore ways of attracting increased investment inflows into key sectors of the economy. President John Agyekum Kufuor will deliver the keynote address after which the Ministers will outline the opportunities in the various sectors.

Speaking at the launch of the Forum in Accra on Friday, Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer of GIPC, said six key sectors of the economy - agriculture, industry, information and communications technology, tourism, minerals processing, banking and finance - would feature prominently in the discussions.

A key component of the agriculture sector will be a presentation on bananas as a viable export opportunity to enable both the private sector and policy makers to appreciate the potential profits and socio-economic benefits a commercial banana venture will present to investors, rural households and the Ghanaians economy.

Another area would be to identify and exploit opportunities that public-private partnerships could offer in the energy, water and other sectors.

Apart from these sectors, Mr Ahomka-Lindsay said, the forum would be used to promote small and medium scale enterprises and seek joint venture partners for over 30 projects which had been pre-screened by the GIPC.

An exhibition by 15 selected exhibitors across all sectors of the economy is to run alongside the forum.

"The forum will showcase investment successes in Ghana and highlight the policies and programmes which have been put in place to make Ghana an attractive investment destination for both domestic and international investors who are looking for investment opportunities as well as for those who want to expand their businesses," he said. Mr Ahomka-Lindsay said GIPC was working with other investment agencies across the region in an effort to promote cross-border investment and particularly encourage those in the Diasporas to invest.