First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo with officials of AGI and BRCIC at the opening of the office
First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has commissioned the Association of Ghana Industry’s (AGI) first liaison office in Qingdao, China.
The opening of the AGI office which was facilitated by the Belt and Road Collaborative Innovative Centre (BRCIC) of China is expected to boost Chinese investment in Ghana, especially towards the ‘one-district-one factory’ (1D1F) programme.
In her remarks, the first lady explained that the opening of the office is a testimony to the good relation which exists between the two countries, and she is confident the initiative would increase business cooperation between Ghana and China.
She encouraged the business community in Ghana to take advantage of the new office, assuring them she would always be available to provide the needed support to ensure that the initiative becomes successful.
The President of the AGI, James Asare-Adjei, mentioned that opening of the liaison office is part of the association’s efforts to support Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.
He, however, stated that though the facility would be managed by AGI, it would be opened to all Ghanaian businesses, trade associations and state institutions.
Mr Asare-Adjei mentioned that the AGI and the international business community, especially BRCIC, are enthusiastic about the 1D1F programme, therefore, opening of an office in China would help “promote Chinese investment in Ghana”.
He added that currently the AGI with government’s support has arranged a $2 billion turn key financial facility from the Chinese National Building Materials Company (CNBM) to support Ghanaian businesses that would operate under the 1D1F initiative.
The Chairperson of BRCIC, Ms Zhang Lu, commended Ghana for being the first country to open a liaison office under the initiative and pledged to support the office to be successful.
The first lady is in China as part of an eight-day visit to various parts of the country, together with female business entrepreneurs from the manufacturing, cosmetic, agriculture, garments and textile and construction industries.