Business News Desk
Bolgatanga, Ghana– The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has pledged to support the Upper East Region’s drive for economic transformation through increased trade, investment promotion, and strategic partnerships under the PEARL Agenda.
The commitment was made by the Executive Secretary of the Association, Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, at the maiden Upper East Regional Development and Business Forum and Investment Expo held in Bolgatanga.
The three-day forum, organised by the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (UERCC) in collaboration with the IEAG, was held under the theme, “Charting the Course for PEARL – Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture and Regional Livelihoods.”
It brought together government officials, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, business executives, investors, entrepreneurs and development partners to explore strategies for unlocking the region’s economic potential.
Delivering a solidarity message, Mr. Awingobit described the PEARL Agenda as a visionary initiative capable of transforming the Upper East Region into a centre for investment, industrialisation, agribusiness and cross-border trade.
“This Forum is more than just another conference. It is a bold declaration that the Upper East Region is ready to take its rightful place as a strategic destination for investment, agribusiness, trade and entrepreneurship,” he said.
He noted that the region possesses significant untapped opportunities in agriculture, livestock production, agro-processing, shea processing, textiles, handicrafts and cross-border commerce, adding that targeted investments in infrastructure, value addition, access to finance and market linkages could unlock sustainable economic growth.
Mr. Awingobit reaffirmed the Association’s readiness to work with government, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, development partners and the private sector to facilitate investment, expand exports and strengthen regional trade.
He also commended the administration of President John Dramani Mahama for prioritising local production, industrialisation and private sector development through policies aimed at creating a more competitive business environment.
According to him, ongoing reforms at Ghana’s ports—including modernisation, digitalisation of trade processes and improvements in customs administration—would lower the cost of doing business and enhance Ghana’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Improving trade facilitation will not only benefit importers and exporters but also open new opportunities for businesses in northern Ghana to access regional and international markets,” he said.
Mr. Awingobit urged stakeholders to measure the success of the forum not by the discussions held but by the investments secured, businesses established, jobs created and livelihoods improved in the years ahead.
Representing President John Dramani Mahama, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, **Mr. Augustus Goosie Tanoh**, reiterated government’s commitment to balanced national development, particularly in northern Ghana.
He said the government’s economic agenda focuses on agriculture, agro-industrialisation, export-led growth, infrastructure development and private sector investment, describing the PEARL initiative as a key complement to those objectives.
Mr. Tanoh further revealed that government is considering the construction of an airport in the Upper East Region to improve connectivity, facilitate trade and attract both domestic and foreign investment.
He said such infrastructure would boost agricultural exports, tourism and business activities while positioning the region as a strategic commercial gateway in northern Ghana.
One of the major outcomes of the forum was the establishment of a 10-member technical working committee comprising experts in climate and weather, agriculture, extractive industries, governance, infrastructure, trade and investment, youth and skills development, tourism and culture, health and education.
The committee presented a series of policy recommendations aimed at improving agricultural productivity, climate resilience, infrastructure, natural resource governance, private sector development and human capital to accelerate socio-economic transformation in the region.
Participants described the recommendations as a practical roadmap for implementing the PEARL Agenda and expressed optimism that the annual forum would become an important platform for attracting investment, strengthening public-private collaboration and driving sustainable development in the Upper East Region.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
