With the purpose of promoting the more trade and investment between two countries, Embassy and Vietnam Trade Office to Ghana, in cooperation with the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), organized the "Vietnam-Ghana Trade and Investment Promotion Forum" on 9th November 2018 in Accra city.

A View of Ghana-Vietnam Trade & Investment Promotion Forum

Attending the forum, there are Hon. Robert Ahomka Lindsay - Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso I - President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Edward Benjamin Ashong Lartey - Director of Investment Service Division of Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) and some other authorities of Ghana. At the Vietnam side, H.E. Mr. Pham Anh Tuan - Ambassador of Vietnam to Ghana, Mr. Hoang Tuan VIET - Commercial Counsellor & Representative of Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (MOIT), and nearly 100 businessmen of Ghana and Vietnam.

Dr. Appiagyei Dankawoso I - President of Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) welcomes Embassy and the business delegation of Vietnam come to Ghana to attend the forum and communication with Ghanaian businessmen. “GNCCI is the professional and reputable organization in Ghana. GNCCI is ready to be a bridge for both business and investment between two countries”, GNCCI president said.

Ambassador Pham Anh Tuan, with the opening speech

In response, Ambassador of Vietnam to Ghana Pham Anh Tuan informs although the situation in the world is fluctuating, but Vietnam always commits to cooperation with other countries, especially Ghana, one of the potential countries in Africa. Ambassador of Vietnam Pham Anh Tuan said that in 2017, the two-way foreign trade turnover of Vietnam and Ghana reached nearly US$ 600 million, an increase of 18% compared to year of 2016, of which Ghana imported from Vietnam US$ 268 million of merchandise, while exported at US$ 320 million. The Ambassador of Vietnam expressed his gratitude to GNCCI, in close collaboration with the Embassy and Embassy and Vietnam Trade Office, to hold this forum.

Hon. Robert Ahomka-Lindsay - Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Republic of Ghana said “Ghana and Vietnam have the most favorable climate conditions and similarly, the agricultural sector of Vietnam is very developed, Ghana needs to learn experiences from Vietnam. Ghana imports a lot of goods from Vietnam, of which the rice is mainly”. Deputy Minister of MOTI Ghana reiterates the visit by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam to Ghana in 2016, emphasizing that in addition to import-export exchange, he also calls on the businessmen of Vietnam to invest in Ghana.

Presenting "Opportunity of business and investment with Vietnam", Commercial Counselor – Representative of Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam – Mr. Hoang Tuan Viet informs “Vietnam is one of the most developed countries in Asia, products of Vietnam with high quality, competitive price, interested by consumers. Vietnam has exported 49 main products to Ghana, including rice, garment-textile, machinery and equipment, motorcycles, fertilizers, plastic products, etc., of which rice is valued at US$ 204 million, accounting for 76% of Vietnam's total export to Ghana, and imports 12 main products from Ghana, including cashew and timber, accounting of 98% of total import value from Ghana”. Representative of MOIT Vietnam also said that the Government of Vietnam pledged to maintain stable policy and create favorable conditions for foreign investors in Vietnam. According to the Foreign Investment Agency of Vietnam, by the end of 2017, there were 125 countries and territories have invested in Vietnam, with 24,748 projects, at the total registered investment capital of US$ 318.72 billion. Ghana has two projects with a total investment capital of US$ 1.01 million, at the 97th ranking among 128 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Commercial Counsellor - Representative of MOIT Vietnam – Mr. Hoang Tuan Viet, Presentation on "Doing Business & Investment with Vietnam"

At the Ghanaian side, Mr. Edward Benjamin Ashong-Lartey, Director of the Investment Service Division of Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), mentions the GDP growth of Ghana is 8.5% in 2017. Ghana had a trade surplus of US$ 1.4 billion, after five years of deficit. In terms of investment policy, Ghana prioritizes five key areas, including: energy, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, processing. During the period from 1994 to 2018, there are 17 projects of Vietnam were invested in Ghana, with an investment capital of US$ 7.24 million.

Mr. Edward Benjamin Ashong-Lartey, Director of the Investment Service Division, GIPC, Presentation on “Opportunity of Trade and Investment with Ghana"

Sharing experiences of Vietnamese Investor in Ghana’’, Mr. VIET Le, Deputy Director General, DAN's MA Co., Ltd., Republic of Ghana, mentioned the preference policy of Ghana government, made his company successful in shrimp farming in Ghana. Speaking at the forum, many Ghanaian businessmen are very glad when hearing the general information about Vietnam, and will moving the direction of the business with Vietnam in the future.

Businessmen of Ghana and Vietnam at the forum

Before the forum, Ambassador of Vietnam - H.E. Mr. Pham Anh Tuan and Commercial Counselor - Representative of MOIT Vietnam - Mr. Hoang Tuan Viet had a working session with Hon. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana, to promote the economy-trade and investment relation between two countries. Ghana's Minister of Trade and Industry, said he would review the plan to visit Vietnam in 2019.