Help us develop our Free Zones - Aliu

Accra, May 8, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Thursday tasked a delegation from the Saudi-based Jebel Ali Free Zone, (JAFZ) the world's most successful Free Zone, to assist Ghana's Free Zones programme to flourish to facilitate the creation of jobs and wealth.

Vice President Mahama, who described Ghana's Free Zone as 'a baby', said it needed investments to grow, adding that JAFZ should take advantage of the tax incentives and opportunities that it offered for the mutual benefit of the foreign investors and Ghanaians.

He said Ghana offered the appropriate investment climate for business, as there was peace, stability and the political goodwill, essential for the development of businesses.

The Vice President noted that Ghanaians were already doing brisk business in Saudi Arabia, which has became a household name as a commercial hub, saying that it would, therefore, be easier to establish joint partnerships for business.

The Ghana Free Zones programme introduces the concept of free ports where bureaucratic obstacles and governmental levies do not apply, thereby maximising the utilisation of port facilities by shippers.

The programme, which is private sector driven, also offers enclave and single factory enterprise schemes that are designed to promote processing and manufacturing of goods through the establishment of Export Processing Zones.

JAFZ has more than 2,000 companies with businesses in manufacturing, industry and other areas.

&n! bsp; The JAFZ Authority manages Free Zones in other countries, such as Mauritius and offers consultancy services.

The Leader of the delegation, Mr Walid Hareb, said the delegation, which represents nine companies, with a turn over of over one billion dollars each, had held meeting with representatives of Ghanaian companies to explore investment opportunities.

The companies deal in electronics, railways, medical equipment, oil refinery and other businesses.

Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and the Modernisation of the Capital City, said a Trade Fair showcasing trade and investment opportunities would be held in Ghana by early next year as a follow up to the visit.

He said Dubai also had a vibrant tourism sector that Ghana could learn from, adding that linkage between trade and tourism could be effectively developed to maximise opportunities from both sectors.

Mr Charles Ampofo, a Ghanaian in the team, who coordinated the visit, said the delegation had been impressed with its reception in the country and it was encouraged to do business and share technical expertise with Ghanaians.