Madam Rosa Liliana Gómez Cárdenas de Weston, the Ambassador of Peru to Ghana, said it was also essential to promote academic and knowledge exchange.

Madam Cárdenas de Weston was speaking at the "Time with the Ambassadors "Series organized by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) in Accra.

The Series is a key initiative by GNCCI aimed at advancing industrial and commercial interests within Ghana and beyond.
She said Peru saw the platform as an opportunity to position itself as a strategic ally in sectors such as agribusiness, sustainable mining and technologies for development.

The Ambassador said training professionals in trade, technology and emerging industries would be key to ensuring that economic growth is sustainable and benefits future generations.

"We stand at a pivotal moment to elevating our trade relations to a new level. Peru and Ghana share a vision of sustainable, inclusive growth with global projection," she said.

The Ambassador invited businesses and government agencies to see in this relationship an opportunity to innovate, diversify and build lasting partnerships.
She said Ghana was one of the most stable and fast-growing economies in West Africa, with a market of more than 30 million people and access to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which brings together more than 400 million consumers.

Madam Cárdenas de Weston said increasing digitalization, infrastructure expansion and an industrialization policy favour dynamic trade with high potential.

At the continental level, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a key initiative that will transform intra- African trade and open new doors for extra-regional partners.
She said to consolidate these opportunities, it was essential to strengthen the dialogue between the public and private sectors of both countries.

Mr Stephane Abass Miezan, the President of GNCCI, said according to the International Trade Centre, in 2023, Ghana exported US$6.24 million worth of goods to Peru, mainly ceramics, rubber, and manufactured products.

Meanwhile, Peru also exported US$21.2 million worth of goods to Ghana, predominantly fish and aquatic products (87 per cent).
He said despite the trade balance favouring Peru, the total trade volume of $27.44 million was very much below what Ghana could do, especially when compared to other South American countries like Brazil.

The President said with AfCFTA in place there was enormous potential to expand trade to other African States through Ghana.

"Let us leverage this platform to foster collaboration in trade, investment, and mutual growth and let us continue to seek ways to build existing partnerships, explore new opportunities, and drive economic development for both countries."