The team will also help develop capacities of local entrepreneurs to explore markets in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The project, with a resident Technical Assistant and four experts has an operational budget of 520,000.00Euro.

Mr Joao Monteiro Paes, Leader of the team at an investment and export promotion seminar in Ho, said the three-year project would create jobs, promote social protection and strengthen technical and vocational education with opportunities for people in the informal sector.

He said the project was also targeting joint ventures and said a call for expression of interest would soon be made to collate and study local proposals for support. Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister welcomed the initiative from the EU and said a lot was going on in the Region and commended entrepreneurs for deciding to invest in the Region.

He called for managerial skills support for entrepreneurs in the Region and asked them to explore the Region’s potential in rice cultivation.  The Regional Minister said government was working to make the Ho airport operational and hinted that a 30-seater and a small cargo aircraft would soon start work to promote agribusiness.

Mr Delali Ndo, Chairman, Volta Regional Advisory Committee on Investments, said government’s One District, One Factory, was slow in the Region due to “mindsets of quick fixes” instead of processes and procedures for sustained success.

He therefore asked local entrepreneurs to be persistent and take advantage of the EU’s support, especially partnership arrangements to grow their businesses and the local economy.

Mr Dela Gadzanku, Volta/Eastern Chairman, Association of Ghana Industries, said the Association was happy with the project and expressed optimism that it would lift up businesses in the Region after three years, with the opportunity to invest in ECOWAS market and beyond.