GIPC HOLDS INVESTMENT WORKSHOP AT BOLGATANGA

23-05-09 GIPC HOLDS INVESTMENT WORKSHOP AT BOLGATANGA

A Regional Outreach Programme organized by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in collaboration with the Ghana Free Zone Board (GFZB) has ended at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The workshop which was aimed at creating a platform for people to take advantage of the rich investment potentials in creating wealth and employment, was under the theme: “Investment promotion and Ghana’s development in the economic world”. The Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni, in an address pledged to support the Ghana Police Service with the needed equipment and logistics in fighting cross border crimes, conflict, human and drug trafficking and many others in efforts to creating an enabling development for business investors to the region. The Director of Global and Regional Operations of the GIPC, Augustine Acheampong Otoo, in a presentation said out of the 2,955 distribution of projects as at the end of 2008 established nationwide, the Upper East Region can boast of only eight. This he said has put the region at a disadvantage compared to other regions. He called on chiefs and land owners in the region to help release land to local and foreign investors to help them boost the region’s business environment and also reduce poverty. Mr. Otoo recommended the promotion of leather works, basketry, pottery as well as textiles and garment produce by the local people. The Manager of GFZB responsible for Enclave and Development, Nana Kodwo Adentwi, disclosed that two hundred and one companies have so far been given license to operate whiles 27,736 people have been gainfully employed, adding that 1.63 billion dollars has also been realized as foreign exchange as at the end of 2008. He entreated participants to encourage local investors to invest in lucrative businesses in order to harness the rich potentials that abound in the region.
GBC END IA/