Heritage Securities, an investment and fund managing firm, in partnership with the United States Friendship and Economic Development Group, (US FED), a supply driven Foreign Exports Development, Financing and Trade consortium of U.S suppliers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), has launched a Trade-Hub Kickoff between Ghana and U.S in Accra.
The Trade-Hub Kick-off dubbed the ‘Akufo-Addo and Trump Trade-First, Not Aid, which was launched at a press conference in Accra yesterday, follows the recent comments by President Nana Akufo-Addo that Ghana and African countries must adopt Trade Not Aid, First.
Speaking at the launch of the Trade-Hub Kickoff, the Managing Director of Heritage Securities Limited, Gideon Quist said, “This policy has to do with trade finance, business finance and any anything that has to do with business.”
Mr Quist added that “This partnership will bring in revenue, finance projects, investments for projects and many more and so we are looking at project financing at any amount that you can think of.”
“It is not aid, it’s purely business, trade finance and project finance for every business man, every government project and anything that can be financed is a part of this beneficial package that is open for anybody who wants to do business with the US,” he averred.
Edward Agyekum Kuffour, a member of the Board of Directors, addressing the media, noted that the aim of the policy is to facilitate the development of small businesses.
“Small businesses are what drive the economy. This consortium creates an enabling environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs to start and all these small businesses will now provide jobs for the citizens,” he added.
“We are not just looking at providing a source of money, but from consultancy services, trade financing, matching clients to other manufactures that can provide equipment, whatever it’s that they need,” he remarked.
“The consortium here is going to be the one stop shop. We can take you through a step by step process to make sure that you have a sustainable project,” he added.
The Managing General Partner of Heritage Securities, Mark Darko, pointed out that “You should be able to pay back whatever aid is extended to you and profit is expected to be made. So that you do not only pay back but also make profit for yourself.”
Mr Darko added that projects have to be well documented, adding that “When we do the cash analysis and we see that when we invest in the projects, they can pay back then we are prepared to do them.”
By Abigail Owiredu-Boateng