President of Ghana inaugurates the UAE Trade Exhibition in Ghana

The figures were delivered during the official opening of the UAE Trade Fair in Ghana which was inaugurated by His Excellency John Agykum Kufuor, President of Ghana. The fair is being held at Ghana International Trade Fair Center in Accra and organized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI).

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by Mr. Alan Kyeremanteng, Minister of Trade and Industry in Ghana, and Professor Chidi Ibe Unido, from the United Nations Industry Development Organization, along with Mr. Ateeq Juma Naseeb, Director of Business Development Department in the DCCI and head of the Dubai Chamber's delegation.

"Ghana provides various opportunities of investment as bilateral trade between Ghana and the UAE has been doubled 12 times in four years. Dubai's non-oil trade with Ghana increased from AED 22 million, or US Dollar 6 million, in 2000 to AED 266.8 million, or US Dollar 72.66 million, in 2004," said Naseeb.

He pointed out that the total non-oil trade between the UAE and Ghana reached AED 273.9 million in 2004, as the UAE's exports to Ghana reached AED 19.3 million, whereas the UAE's imports from Ghana hit AED 46.9 million, while the UAE's re-exports cover the biggest part of the bilateral trade between the two countries and reached AED 207.6 million. He added that Dubai occupies 97.4% of the total non-oil trade between the UAE and Ghana in 2004.

Mr. Naseeb stressed that the exhibition reflects the DCCI's interest in providing distinguished and innovative services that ensure added values to the its members, in addition to enhancing their competitiveness in the local and world markets. He said the exhibition enables exhibitors to meet their counterparts in Ghana to learn about the Ghanaian market requirements, as well as signing some commercial deals.

Naseeb praised the efforts of the participating government establishments which helped making the event a success. He highlighted the Ghanaian Government's interest in supporting the fair, which provides a good chance to discover investment opportunities in both countries.

President Kufuor said in his inaugural speech that the Republic of Ghana enjoys a political and economic stability, and that the country's economy has been developed after a sharp drop in inflation rates during the past few years. He pointed out that Ghana is carrying out a number of important energy projects and that it launches direct flights with a number of major African and non-Africa cities such as Johannesburg and Dubai.

The Ghanaian president toured the fair after cutting the ribbon and was briefed about the products on display. He was accompanied by Mr. Ateeq Juma Naseeb, Director of Business Development Department in the DCCI, and Mr. Sultan Lootah, Acting Director of Business Promotion Department in the DCCI and a number of Ghanaian top officials.

Mr. Sultan Majid Lootah, Acting Director of Business Promotion Department in the DCCI, noted, 'that organizing the UAE Trade Fair in Ghana reflects the goals of the DCCI's management in opening new channels of communication with the African businessmen and importers, as well as enhancing the role of Dubai as a major re-export center to African countries and having the chance to introduce and promote the UAE's products and services in the African market.'

He added that 'the Dubai Chamber is interested in effectively promoting the business sectors in Dubai which is positively reflected on the economic interests in the emirate, in addition to providing distinguished value added services that contribute in activating the members' competitiveness in the regional and international markets.'