President Akufo-Addo has called on the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), to support Ghana’s comprehensive industrialization agenda his administration has put in place since assuming office in January 2017.
Speaking at a ceremony to officially open the Japan External Trade Organization’s office in Ghana at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, President Akufo-Addo said with JETRO fully in place in Ghana, “the time has come for a more coordinated approach by Ghana and Japan to undertake joint initiatives which will complement the work government is already doing to empower the private sector to take advantage of the long standing and beneficial bilateral relations” between the two countries.
“I am fully convinced that working closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, JETRO will fully align its development cooperation to assist the Ministry of Trade and Industry to implement Ghana’s comprehensive industrial transformation programme,” Akufo-Addo stated.
“Industrialization is a matter of utmost priority and urgency for this government especially, in addressing the challenges of job creation for our youthful population and in exploiting fully, the opportunities available for made in Ghana products in export markets,” the President added.
Ghana’s Target
According to President Akufo-Addo, his government is aiming at becoming the biggest trading partner of Japan on the African continent.
“Ghana has a well-developed, stable and conducive policy framework and regulatory environment that has made her the investment destination of choice for investors. We also have a buoyant domestic private sector capable and eager to partner with counterparts from Japan,” the President said.
“This is the most opportune time to boost trade and investment for the mutual benefit of our peoples as we seek to implement out post-COVID-19 recovery programme.”
“This is a good time for the government of Japan and Japanese investors to join us in making Ghana the hub of Japanese investments in Africa by creating win-win partnerships with the Ghanaian private sector,” Akufo-Addo added.
Chairman of JETRO
Chairman of JETRO, Nobuhiko Sasaki, in his address noted that JETRO is pleased to open its 9th office in Africa despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He indicated that Japan is looking forward to strengthening her trade relations with Ghana in the years ahead.
JETRO, according to Mr. Sasaki, is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world and noted that Ghana, as a result of her political and social stability, is a destination of choice for Japanese businesses.
JETRO Global
With seventy-six (76) overseas offices in fifty-five (55) countries, JETRO has its headquarters in Tokyo and Osaka in Japan.
Facilitating innovation through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Japan, supporting overseas expansion of startups, supporting exports of Japanese agriculture, forestry, fishery products and food, are some of the areas of focus for JETRO.
Additionally, JETRO also aims to assist Japanese businesses with their overseas business and to carry out surveys and research to inform the business decisions of Japanese companies.
JETRO Accra
JETRO Accra began its operations on March 2020. However, the opening ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the opening of the Accra office, JETRO now has nine offices in Africa.
In order to strengthen business exchanges between Ghana and Japan and contribute to the further development of the bilateral relations, JETRO Accra office will focus on three areas of interest.
First is trade & investment promotion between Ghanaian and Japanese companies; second, exhibitions and business delegation/missions to and from Ghana and Japan, and lastly, JETRO will also focus on research and policy proposal/advocacy.
