The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, has urged Dutch investors to explore the numerous investment opportunities that the country offers while leveraging on market access provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He stated that this would boost intra-Africa trade as well as Africa’s role on the global market.
Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong made this statement during the commencement of the renegotiation of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in Accra on Wednesday as part of a reaffirmation of Ghana and the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ commitment to strengthening their economic and trade relations.
He stated that trade has played an important role in enhancing the bilateral relations between the two countries.
He recalled that in the past, trade was conducted through the exchange of commodities such as gold, ivory, cocoa paste, cocoa butter and spices for Dutch textiles, firearms, and metalware.
“The new areas for consideration will include knowledge sharing and professionalization of the horticultural industry, the processing of cocoa in Ghana, and the promotion of sustainable development as well as corporate social responsibility which are pivotal to Ghana’s economic growth,” he added.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Yaw Amoateng Afriyie, noted that renegotiating the BIT would provide a more conducive environment to promote, attract and retain Dutch Investments into Ghana and for Ghanaian investors in the Netherlands.
He hoped that the discussions would lead to an enhanced regulatory framework that protects foreign investors doing business in the two countries as well as strengthen the private sector.
On her part, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Economic Relations of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Madam Hanneke Schuiling expressed her government’s readiness to renew negotiations of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to further deepen the economic and trade relations in areas of agriculture, exports, science and technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, amongst others.
She was hopeful that the discussions would yield fruitful results for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
