Ghana to sign trade agreement with Thailand

Accra, Sept. 6, GNA - Ghana and Thailand are to sign a joint Trade Commission for bilateral cooperation next month following a 10-day official visit to Thailand by Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama. Briefing newsmen on his return to Accra on Wednesday, the Vice President said he held separate meetings with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Dr Thaksian Shinawatra and his deputy Dr Surekiert Sathirathai.

He said the discussions, which were mainly on economic relations between the two countries, led to the Thai Prime Minister promising economic support to Ghana especially in the areas of road and rural development.

Alhaji Mahama observed that there was a lot Ghana could learn from Thailand, saying that country had taken some initiatives which where having positive impact on the lives of the people. Some of them were a government investment programme and savings banks that assisted people who came forward with business proposals. The Vice President said he also held discussions with the business community in Thailand and they were quite eager to explore business opportunities in Ghana.

Alhaji Mahama said he was particularly impressed by research being conducted into the use of bio-diesel with the aim of making that country self-reliant.

He also met the Ghanaian community in Bangkok during which he briefed them on recent developments, especially government's commitment to good governance.

Mr Akwasi Osei Agyei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who accompanied the Vice President also held discussions with Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Ghana's Ambassador to Thailand, on prospects of a prisoner swap.

Mr Agyei said during a three-day stopover in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Vice President held meetings with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Multi-Commodity Centre among several other organisations.

He said the Vice President expressed Ghana's interest in enhancing economic and trade relations with Dubai and the UAE in general. Mr Agyei said Ghana was committed to strengthening these relations through the attraction of investors from the UAE to the various sectors of the economy, such as real estates, manufacturing, industry and health.

Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Affairs, Mrs Oboshie Sai Coffie, Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation and Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, were at the Kotoka International Airport to meet the Vice President on arrival.