Ghana is Home to Several Japanese Corporations – Hon Ayorkor To JETRO DG
The Director-General of the Japan External Trade Organisation Office in Accra, Mr. Hiroaki Sekine, on Thursday, 5th August, paid courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in Accra.
Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey Commended Japan for the excellent manner it has so far hosted the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She expressed optimism on the athletes representing Ghana at the Games and hoped that they will bring back gold medals.
During the interaction with the D-G Mr. Hiroaki SEKINE, Honourable Ayorkor stated that Ghana and Japan enjoy longstanding, cordial and strong bonds of friendship and cooperation based on shared values and priorities and gave the assurance that Ghana remains committed to deepening the cooperation between the two countries for the mutual benefit of both countries.
She added that the establishment of the JETRO office in Accra in December, 2020 as well as the Japan-Ghana Business Council in December, 2019, is evident of the joint commitment of the two countries to prioritize cooperation in the area of trade and investment;
She asserted Ghana’s readiness to support JETRO’s activities so that strategic business partnerships between the private sectors of the two countries would be successfully forged
Ghana is home to the largest number of Japanese businesses in West Africa and note that the establishment of the JETRO office will surely lead to further promotion of Japanese businesses in Ghana.
The commissioning of the Toyota & Suzuki Assembly Plant in Ghana by the President of the Republic and the fact that other Japanese Corporations such as Nissan, Sumitomo, Mitsui, Ajinomoto, Itochu, Marubeni, Fuji Oil, and Lotte have also extended their operations to Ghana.
She expressed the hope that these business partnerships with Japanese agencies will translate into profits for the investors and also result in technological transfer for sustainable and accelerated development for Ghana.
The commencement of trading under AfCFTA should encourage Japanese investors to step up their investment engagement in Ghana, particularly, in the area of Agriculture and Agro-processing, Education, Tourism, Health, Energy, Petrochemical Industry, Infrastructural Development, Manufacturing and Trade and ultimately, use Ghana as a springboard to access the continental market size of 1.2 billion people.
Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey assured Director General Mr. SEKINE her firm determination to work closely with him and further advance the bonds of friendship and fraternal relations between the two countries based on mutual respect, solidarity and development.
She highlighted Government’s flagship programmes such as the “One District One Factory” and “Planting for Food and Jobs” and encourage Japanese investments in those areas.
She indicated her determination to work with JETRO, to further advance the bonds of friendship and fraternal relations between Ghana and Japan and assured Mr. SEKINE of the Ministry’s continued support in the discharge of his duties in Ghana and wish him a successful tenure in office.
