Trinidad and Tobago’s Trade Mission to Ghana has opened doors of opportunity for greater trade and investment between both countries. Leading a fifty (50) member delegation to Ghana comprising the business community and Government Agencies, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry engaged in several bilateral meetings with key stakeholders aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship between both countries and creating potential business opportunities for T&T’s manufacturers.
During her visit to Ghana, Minister Gopee-Scoon had the honour of meeting with His Royal Majesty Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana at the Manahayia Palace in Kumasi. In her address to His Majesty, Minister extended special greetings on behalf of Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Referencing a recent visit by His Majesty to Trinidad and Tobago during the Emancipation celebrations in 2023, Minister Gopee-Scoon quoted his remarks, “let us hold hands, let us think together, let us pull our resources together for the benefit of the improvement of our peoples.” She said, “we have acted on his words and its the reason we have fifty members of the business community and the Government Agencies participating this Trade Mission which follows up on His majesty wishes”. Minister Gopee-Scoon expressed interest for further collaboration between the people of both of our countries.
Minister Gopee-Scoon also had the opportunity to address the Trinidad and Tobago delegation and Ghanaian businesses at the Doing Business in Ghana Seminar. The Seminar provided practical tips and general information about the requirements for companies doing business with Ghana enterprises. Minister Gopee-Scoon identified Ghana as being one of Trinidad and Tobago’s top 10 trading partners in the African continent, and highlighted the long-standing historical and cultural ties shared between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago which has grown considerably, resulting in the visit of His Royal Majesty Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana, to Trinidad and Tobago in July 2023. She emphasised the importance to Ghana as a gateway to West Africa for Trinidad and Tobago and highlighted the potential areas for investment, which included manufacturing, maritime logistics, business process outsourcing, hotel & resort development, and agro-processing.
Remarks were also delivered by Mr. Benjamin Dzoboku, Managing Director of Republic Banks Ghana who urged participants to take advantage of the opportunities presented in Trinidad and Tobago’s trade mission to Ghana. His Excellency Wendell De Landro, High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria emphasized the importance of efficient air connectivity between Trinidad and Tobago and the African continent through the facilitation of direct flights. He noted the Bilateral Air Services Agreement being developed between Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana since 2020 and how it can be used to increase business opportunities, namely through increased participation in expos on the continent.
Senator the Honorable Paula Gopee-Scoon also met with her counterpart, the Honourable Kohina Tahir Hammond (MP), Minister of Trade and Industry in Ghana. Discussions surrounded trade opportunities and possible areas of trade complementarity between our two countries. Following the meeting, Minister Gopee-Scoon witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association and the Association of Ghana Industries. Other bilateral meetings included a meeting with the Honourable Bryan Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture and the Honourable Shirley Ayork Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana where discussions centered around bilateral issues of mutual interests to both countries.
Minister Gopee-Scoon met with representatives of the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) where discussions took place on Ghana’s Free Zone regime as well as on potential collaborations regarding Trinidad and Tobago’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) regime. The GFZA is focused on creating attractive and competitive freezone incentives in Ghana to promote economic development. In keeping with investment opportunities, the Minister also met with Mr. Reginald Yofi Grant, the CEO of the Ghana Investment and Promotion Centre (GIPC), the primary agency responsible for attracting and promoting investment in Ghana. Favourable discussions took place around the conclusion of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), between Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana in May 2024.
President of the TTMA Roger Roach described the mission as very favorable for the delegation. He said, “From all indications, the engagement was very fruitful with great potential for the business community in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). There were discussions on the export of TT finished goods and services to Ghana, the possibility of sourcing inputs from Ghana, contract manufacturing, and foreign direct investment potential (inward and outward).”
