Ghana – Spain Business Forum, Thursday 16th February 2023, Madrid.

Mar 8- 2023

The Embassy of Ghana in Madrid, in collaboration with the Secretary of Secretary of State of Trade of Spain, Spanish Chamber of Commerce, and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE), held a one-day Ghana-Spain Business Forum on Thursday 16^th February 2023, at the headquarters of the CEOE, in Madrid. The forum, which was held within the context of the biennial political consultations between Ghana and Spain, provided an opportunity for over 100 large and medium-sized Spanish companies present to learn about the economic priorities of the Government of Ghana, as well as the business and investment opportunities that Ghana offers to Spanish companies in infrastructure, tourism, water and sanitation management, engineering, technology and innovation, and agri-food, among others.

Notable dignitaries at the Forum included the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Honourable Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong (MP), Ghana’s Ambassador to Spain, H. E. Muhammad Adam, Mr. Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ms. Marta Blanco the President of the CEOE, the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, H. E. Javier Gutiérrez, the General Director of International Trade and Investment of Spain, Madam Alicia Varela Donosos, and the International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce Mr. Jaime Montalvo.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Marta Blanco the President of the CEOE, expressed satisfaction with the commendable number of Spanish businesses present at the forum and encouraged them to initiate or expand their business interests in Ghana, which she described as a country worthy of Spanish investments.  

Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong (MP) called on the Captains of Industry present to consider Ghana as their destination point for investment in Africa. He touted the government’s programmes such as the “One District -One Factory Programme”, ‘Agenda 111’, among others, to attract foreign investment in partnership with Ghanaian businesses.  

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr. Yofi Grant, gave a riveting presentation on the major areas that Spanish investors could channel their resources into for profitable investments, and the positive economic development of both countries.  He advised that they should, "view Investment in Ghana as a relationship and an opportunity but not only as an activity". He emphasized that Ghana could be thought of in terms of the three Os, Opportunity, Openness and Optimism.

Ghana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, His Excellency Muhammad Adam, described the Forum as one of the follow-ups to the successful launch of the Focus Africa 2023 Plan by the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during the official visit of His Excellency the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to Spain in March 2021.  He called on the Spanish companies to take advantage of the specific financial mechanisms embodied in the Focus Africa Plan in support of Spanish companies investing in Africa, to invest in Ghana as a destination of choice.

The Spanish Ambassador in Ghana and the International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce also highlighted the advantages of investing in Ghana, including the country’s exemplary credentials.

The Embassy also took the opportunity to showcase some products of Ghana such as ‘Chocomilo’, ‘Milo’, different types of chocolate, plantain chips, ‘Soobolo’ drink and even ‘kelewele’.

The Forum also provided an opportunity for interaction and exchange of contacts and information on Ghanaian and Spanish Businesses.