Tim Harris
The Western Cape Investment and Trade and Promotion Agency (Wesgro), along with 25 companies from the province’s services sector and creative industries, on Tuesday set off to Accra, Ghana, on a trade mission.
The mission, which would run until June 26, formed part of the agency’s efforts to increase trade between the Western Cape and the rest of Africa.
“Our agency has strong ties with the South Africa–Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry and they have invited us to take a group of Western Cape companies on a trade mission to explore business opportunities in Ghana,” CEO Tim Harris noted.
Ghana was one of the priority markets in terms of Wesgro's West African Trade Corridor Programme, as exports to Ghana from the Western Cape have grown from R40-million in 1999 to R606-million in 2013.
“This mission will go a long way to strengthen business ties between Ghana and the Western Cape. Ghana is a relatively easy market for Western Cape companies, given the fact that English is the language of business, and [the country’s] political system helps to create stability and predictability,” Harris added.
Wesgro’s itinerary included meetings with the Ghana Investment Centre, the South African Embassy in Ghana, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and a group business networking session with Ghanaian businesses.