GIPC Isn't For Foreign Investors Only; We're Focused On Local Businesses

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh, has dispelled the notion that the centre is more interested in increasing Foreign Direct Investment into the country than being concerned with domestic investors or local businesses. According to her, aware of this negative perception, the GIPC has been engaging in actions that seek to sensitize Ghanaians to translate their business experiences into tangible results such as building their capacity through regional sensitization programmes. She reiterated that the centre considers domestic investors as best ambassadors for the country as far as investing in the country is concerned, thus her recent meeting with members of the Ghana Club 100 as well as the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), the Chamber of Mines, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the Private Enterprises Foundation (PEF), as a collective body, to share ideas for the first time with the GIPC and design a road map towards leveraging the various opportunities thereof to grow their businesses. The GIPC, she said, has the mandate to diligently pursue, attract and retain investments, both foreign and local to support His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama�s agenda and can best do so with the active participation of the Ghanaian corporate community. �We ensure that Ghanaians are having tangible experiences to demonstrate that GIPC is not for foreign investors but particularly focused on Ghanaian investors. There are regional sensitization the GIPC has been conducting for a number of years to build capacity in the various regions across the country, to showcase investing opportunities and to articulate what is required to pursue investment opportunities in each locality�� she told peacefmonline.com in an exclusive interview. Mrs Trebarh, who recently toured the United States, United Kingdom and France to seek strategic investment, was very hopeful her interaction with the investors did not only expose them to the nation�s business opportunities but also see them partner the various local businesses, so as to build a robust economy. �We were looking at specific sectors, infrastructure, power, oil and gas as well investing in health care in African markets� We had a lot of goodwill and positive response from them so much so that there is now a phase which is; individuals coming into the country to engage in potential partners,� she said. The GIPC boss listed legislation, access to infrastructure and power and difficulty in expanding their commercial interest because of inflation as some of the challenges laid before her by the local business community during her interaction with them. Whiles promising to ensure that all these hurdles are cleared for the local investors to profit from the same benefits and incentives enjoyed by new foreign investors, Mrs Trebarh indicated the resolve of the GIPC to develop a robust database of credible Ghanaian business companies and individuals who can partner with the international organizations and institutions that are involved in different areas of commerce. �Developing that kind of database, and pushing the pan-African agenda and participating in forums focused on trade in Africa, helps in promoting businesses as well as ensuring that the quality of the discussions about potential corporation is around partnership so everybody will be around the same table with something; no one is ahead,� she stated. Though the task ahead of her seems daunting, the GIPC CEO believed prospects are �fantastic�, �bright� and she is especially �optimistic�. �We are seizing the moment because as every business person knows, sometimes that great business opportunity only comes at a certain time. And so, GIPC again, is looking at new service offerings, new information provisions, a totally new face in terms of reaching out to the investing community and making sure that our relationships are interactive. So it�s more than just registering with GIPC, it�s also having an experience with us over a period of time. And for me, those are things that are going to apply to both the local business community and as well as the international business community. So the prospects are bright and I�m especially optimistic�,� she