Importers and Exporters Association are not happy with government’s decision to exclude the maritime sector from the list of sectors it announced for Dubai 2020 Expo.
The group has described the move by government as disappointing and lack of foresight to exhibit the myriad of opportunities in the maritime and aviation industries to the world.
Ghana has signed to be part of trade exhibition in Dubai. The event which takes off October 1, 2021, will see Ghana showcase to investors opportunities in the following areas: trade and investment, banking and finance, infrastructure and telecommunications technology, mining, oil and gas, and agriculture.
The rest of the sectors that the country seeks to draw investors to are, manufacturing, textiles and garments, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education, property, and real estate, as announced by Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Herbert Krapa on Monday September 27, 2021.
However, the Importers and Exporters Association have picked issues with government for what they say is an attempt by government to sideline the sector they operate.
Statement by the group signed by its Executive Secretary Sampson Asaki Awingobit stated that “We want to believe this was an oversight on the part of the trade ministry when they availed to the press, the areas they intend to showcase. But if not, we as stakeholders in the Maritime and Trade sector, will urge the Ghanaian team led by the President and his Ministers to ensure they showcase the infrastructural improvement in our Maritime and Aviation sector including the MPS Terminal 3 and that of our Airport which could compete against any international facility”.
The group called on President Nana Addo, who would be addressing the 2020 Dubai Expo, to factor into his note the need to sell the country’s Maritime Industry which they believe has much potentials and the ability to attract investors into the country.
Read full statement below
FAILURE BY GOVERNMENT TO EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITIES IN MARITIME SECTOR AT DUBAI EXPO 2020, DISAPPOINTING- IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has observed with some disappointment, the failure of the Ghana government to factor the Maritime Industry in it array of Trade clusters it intend showcasing at this year’s Dubai Expo 2020.
Government, we are being told will be showcasing the business cluster at it 200-metre square pavilion at the expo which kicks off from the 1st of October 2021.
However, during a recent press briefing, a deputy trade minister Herbert Krapa, stated categorically that the business cluster government intends exhibiting to investors will be that of trade and investment, banking and finance, infrastructure and telecommunications technology, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, textiles and garments, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education, property, and real estate that investors can tap into. However, there was no mention of any plans by the government to showcase our Maritime and Aviation Industry which can boast of an international Port status and also a potential Aviation which is doing well.
We want to believe this was an oversight on the part of the trade ministry when they availed to the press, the areas they intend to showcase. But if not, we as stakeholders in the Maritime and Trade sector, will urge the Ghanaian team led by the President and his Ministers to ensure they showcase the infrastructural improvement in our Maritime and Aviation sector including the MPS Terminal 3 and that of our Airport which could compete against any international facility.
It is our fervent hope that, the president HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, who would be addressing the 2020 Dubai Expo, will factor into his note the need to sell the country’s Maritime Industry which has soo much potentials and the ability to attract investors into the country.
Signed
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Samson Asaki Awingobit
Executive Secretary
