As part of efforts to strengthen trade ties with West Africa and contribute to the future growth of the Ghanaian economy, companies from Ireland have recently visited Ghana to build business partnerships with companies in the country.
Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney, who led the trade mission from Ireland to West Africa, said the idea of the mission was not simply to sell but was built on the existing foothold in the sub-region.
“Our visit to Ghana is very important step in increasing … relationship between the two countries,” he said.
The visit which involved 41 Irish companies, as well as senior delegates from Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland, covered Ghana and Nigeria.
The companies represented a variety of sectors including agri-food, education, information and communication technology, and financial services.
According to Coveney, Ireland is looking beyond the most immediate economic challenges facing Ghana, saying it is temporary.
“There are challenges but the future looks more exciting and the Irish companies would want to be part of that,” he said, while adding that Ghana presents opportunity because of the stable economy, high standard of education and the population, making it an attractive market for transfer of technology know-how in the field of finance and agriculture.
He said the Irish government is committed to building a stronger and more vibrant relationship with West Africa initially focusing on Ghana and Nigeria.
The Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland, Julie Sinnamon said the trade mission was about helping Irish companies to optimise on the opportunity that exists, adding that the ambition is to reach export sales of 600 million Euros to the region by 2018
There has been substantial increase in trade and investment between Ireland, Nigeria and Ghana as total exports to Ghana and Nigeria reached more than 375 million Euros in 2014. Ireland currently exports 50 million Euros of agriculture produce and dairy products into Ghana.
