Dr Spio-Garbra (L), Nesrin Bayazit at the launch
Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Minister for Trade and Industry, has urged the Turkish businesspeople in the country to consider their Ghanaian counterparts as shareholders.
According to him, “Ghana’s human resource is one of the most valuable resources so I encourage you to make them shareholders.
Mr Spio-Garbrah, who was speaking at the first Turkish Products Fair in Accra, urged the Turkish business community to consider Ghana as a strategic trade partner due to its geographical position.
“I am looking at a joint venture that will benefit the two countries,” he said.
Mr Spio-Garbrah commended the Turkish government for reposing confidence in the country’s economy, saying “it’s few months to elections yet you have decided to provide the needed platform for a joint venture.”
The four-day Turkish Fair, which was put together by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, seeks to contribute to the strengthening of the economic and trade relations between Turkey and Ghana.
Turkey Ambassador to Ghana, Nesrin Bayazit, said Ghana is Turkey’s fourth largest trade partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, adding that the trade volume between the two countries reached approximately $400 million in 2015.
She explained that Turkey’s export to Ghana amounted to $230m and imports from Ghana, $170m, adding that “Turkish products are well-known for their quality and competitive prices worldwide.”
Vice President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Dursun Topcu, expressed optimism that the inaugural event in Ghana would create opportunities for new partnerships.
cephrok@yahoo.com
By Cephas Larbi