The week-long mission was to bolster international trade relations between the two countries.  

The plenary sessions and one-to-one business matchmaking which featured businesses in Ghana and their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago, took place at the Lancaster Hotel, Accra.

The mission commenced with an enlightening opening session on the theme: “Doing business in Ghana,” with distinguished speakers from both countries deliberating on the subject.

The High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Wendell De Landro; the President of TTMA, Roger Roach; the President of InvestTT, Sekou Alleyne, and the Chief Executive Officer of TTMA, Dr Ramesh Ramdeen, all participated in it.

They all echoed the sentiments of cooperation and mutual economic benefits that the initiative comes with.

Framework

The Minister of Trade of Trinidad and Tobago, Paula Goopee-Scoon, stressed her country’s commitment to developing and strengthening the frameworks necessary to encourage trade and investment between the Caribbean nation and Ghana.

“We hope that this mission will truly pave the way for increased business-to-business engagements between our two regions,” she said.

 

Financial conduit

The Managing Director of Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, Benjamin Dzoboku, highlighted the bank’s pivotal role as a financial conduit, set to facilitate seamless trade between the two countries.

“With our deep understanding of the local market dynamics, regulatory landscape and cultural nuances, we are here to guide you through every step of your investment journey.

Our team is dedicated to providing tailored financial solutions, insights and the necessary support to ensure your ventures take root and flourish on Ghanaian soil,” he added.

The Head of Risk Management of the Customs Division, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Lemmy Kwawu, provided insights into the customs regulation, while the Inspectorate 

Director of the Ghana Standards Authority, Jessica Nkansah, spoke on the importance of maintaining high-quality standards of goods and services entering the Ghanaian market.

There were also contributions from the President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Joseph Obeng, who provided guidance on trading prerequisites in Ghana, with the Director for Investor Services at the Ghana Investments Promotion Centre (GIPC), Edward Ashong-Lartey, expatiating on the investment opportunities awaiting Trinidad and Tobago’s delegates in various Ghanaian sectors.

The Head of the National Coordinating Office of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Dr Fareed Arthur, also shared his perspective on deepening the trade relations between the two nations within the Africa continental region.

Republic Bank hosted a celebratory cocktail function for the delegates as a testament to the mission’s success and the deepening of ties between the two nations.

It also served as a networking platform, fostering connections that are anticipated to translate into fruitful partnerships. 

Benefits

The trade mission has laid the groundwork for diversifying economic activities between the two countries, promising growth in non-traditional sectors.

The delegates were introduced to numerous investment avenues in the country, which can lead to a surge in foreign direct investment and technological exchange.

Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, a universal bank, is a subsidiary of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) of Trinidad & Tobago, the largest and most profitable independent bank in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The parent bank has served the region for over 185 years and has a total asset base of over $17.1 billion as of March last year.