Doryumu, Dec. 19, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday commissioned a multi-functional industrial enclave at Doryumu, in the Shai Osudoku District near Accra.
The industrial park, known as the Bright International Free Zone, will among others play host to hundred factories, 1000 stores, as well as several other businesses.
Commissioning it and the Leefound Food Stuff Ghana Limited, a tomato processing facility, President Akufo-Addo said the enclave had the potential to create the largest export market in West Africa and would boost the African Continental Free Trade Area when it begins next year.
With most of the industries to be cited in the area being Chinese-Owned, he noted that the development was an important expression of the confidence investors had in the Ghanaian economy.
The President indicated that the enclave had the potential to be the biggest Chinese investment in the country, and the largest industrial concern in West Africa.
He said the enclave, which is expected to create thousands of jobs, and lead to technology transfer and technical training for Ghanaian youth, was a testimony of the strong relations between Ghana and China.
President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that the development would attract many more foreign investment into the country and urged the indigenes of the area to support the investors to ensure the success of the operations of the enclave.
On the Tomato processing facility, the President said the plant, an investment of over 23 million dollars, would create 600 direct jobs for Ghanaians.
He assured the investors in the enclave of Government's support to create the enabling environment for the success of their businesses.
The Tomato processing facility is directly under the One District, One Factory initiative of Government.
Covering an area of about 60,000 square meters, it encompasses a comprehensive workshop, a finished product, raw materials and packaging materials warehouses, office buildings.
The factory that has an estimated annual output of 54,000 tons of tomato paste, has three tomato paste filling production lines and their auxiliary productions equipment.
Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen said Ghana was on the brink of a great transformation as a result of Government's policy drive that set the country on the path of a massive industrialisation drive.
He said the setting up of the tomato processing facility would leverage on governments existing programmes in then agricultural sector to ensure food sufficiency and less dependence on the importation of food produce from other countries.
Ghana last year alone imported tomatoes to the tune of a 100 million dollars from Burkina Faso.
The Planting for Food and Jobs Initiative this year ensured a bumper harvest of food produce across the country, with neighboring countries importing food from Ghana.
The Minister indicated that the tomato factory had the potential of being a foreign exchange earner for the country through the exportation of processed tomatoes to other countries.
He also assured that the right atmosphere would be created to enhance the success of the investments in the enclave.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Shi Ting Wang said the Chinese had grown exponentially because of the deliberate policies that its authorities took to promote industrial parks and free trade zones.
He called on the Ghanaian government to provide more incentives to attract Chinese investments and enterprises the world over to set up their businesses in the enclave.
"Long-lasting favourable bilateral economic and trade relations need joint effort from both Chinese and Ghanaian side...I hope to witness more Chinese companies to invest in the zone."
GNA
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