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Let Africa have increased share of
world trade – Mahama
Accra, Feb. 09, Ghanadot/GNA - Vice President John Dramani
Mahama on Monday called for increased collaboration between
development partners and Africa to take advantage of the
world economic crunch and redirect trade to the benefit of
developing economies.
He said Africa could not continue with its marginal share of
two per cent of world trade, but could become the next
centre of world trade if resources would be channelled to
create trade and investment opportunities.
The Vice President made the call when Mr. Fabrizio de
Agostini, the
Italian Ambassador in Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at
the Castle, Osu,
at which the Ambassador congratulated Mr Mahama on his new
role as the Vice President of Ghana.
Mr. Mahama commended assistance from Italy in the
development of the Akosombo Dam, and gave an assurance that
Government would deepen the
bilateral relations between the two countries for mutual
benefit.
He called for increased investment in Africa, and made a
request to
Italy to increase its assistance to Ghana by way of
technology transfer for development of small and medium
enterprises (SMEs).
Vice President Mahama said there was the need to assist
Ghana with technology to create food security and become a
net exporter of food.
The Vice President welcomed collaboration with the developed
world and opened discussions on increasing bilateral
relations with Italy. He also appealed for Italian help for
equipment and technology for agro processing.
He reiterated Government’s determination to target and
modernise agriculture, and appealed for the transfer of
technology in the form of small equipment for
agro-processing, especially of tomato, which was
sufficiently grown locally.
On the death of six Ghanaians who were shot in Napoli in
September last year, the Vice President expressed concern
about the incident and said the
two nations should be able to work out a situation to
satisfy the families
of the deceased.
Mr de Agostini said Africa was becoming more important to
Italy and expressed confidence in the growth of relations
between Ghana and Italy.
He said Italy would tackle Phase Two of its assistance to
SMEs.
GNA
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