German Business Delegation Ends Visits

A five member German business delegation from the public and private sectors in Germany visited Ghana from the 10 to the 21 November 2002 to hold discussions with their Ghanaian counterparts.

The German delegation included private contractors in road construction and maintenance, private engineering consulting firms, experts in technical training and an official from the state-owned Saxony Economic Development Cooperation.

The visit was organised by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Road Maintenance Project, a bilateral project of the German and Ghanaian governments based in Accra.

The German delegation held discussions with the national and regional executives of the Association of Road Contractors of Ghana (ASROC), the Ghana Institute of Engineers, Ministry of Roads and Transport, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and private companies in road construction and maintenance in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.

The aim of the visit was to examine how to develop partnerships and business relations between Ghanaian and German small and medium sized private companies in the road maintenance and construction sector for their mutual benefit. The delegation held discussion with their Ghanaian counterparts on how to strengthen private companies working in Ghana's road sector and exchanged ideas on the latest development in the road sector. Discussions were also held on an on-going public private partnership programme in which Ghanaian engineers from private construction companies would take part in four months technical and management training in Germany.

A member of the delegation, Mr. Ulf Richter of the Saxony State Ministry for Economic Affairs said the delegation was on a fact finding mission to Ghana and if the results are positive, it would encourage more German companies and consulting firms to enter into partnerships with their Ghanaian counterparts.