A number of Japanese companies have expressed interest in investing in Ghana’s energy, oil and gas sectors.
Some of the companies have also proposed to channel their investment into agriculture, agro processing and water management.
The chief executive officers of the various companies made the proposals at separate meetings with President John Dramani Mahama on the sidelines of the just-ended fifth Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD V) in Yokohama, Japan.
The companies include Mitsui, Marubeni, Sumitomo, Ajinomoto, Japan Oil, Sojiz Corporation, First Gate Corporation and Goldman Sach .
The meetings between the President and the business executives were attended by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Seth Terkper; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Hanna Tetteh; the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Emmanuel Kofi- Armah Bauh.
President Mahama told journalists that the Japanese investors were encouraged by Ghana’s economic growth and political stability, hence their decision to increase investment in the country.
He said many Japanese companies withdrew from Ghana when the country opted for the HIPC initiative and the subsequent withdrawal of the Japanese Yen loan.
However, the President said because of Ghana’’ progress, the few Japanese companies in Ghana wanted to increase their investments to make a significant impact on the nation’s economy.
Others had also declared their intention with strong proposals to come and invest in Ghana, he said.
For instance, President Mahama said, Mitsui, which already operated in Ghana’s energy sector, had decided to put up another thermal plant in Ghana.
Beside, he said, some of the Japanese business executives would be investing in procuring machinery to increase Ghana’s agricultural production.
other companies would also involve themselves in the efforts at adding value to Ghana’s products.
Some of the companies had decided to visit Ghana soon to do feasibility studies of their proposed projects, the President said.
Source: Daily Graphic
