Africa Business Communities

Dubai Chamber strengthens business ties with Africa through new office opening in Ghana

Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry has strengthened its international presence once again by opening a new office in Accra, Ghana, providing a gateway for UAE businesses to West Africa’s 250 million consumers.

H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, who was leading a trade mission to Ghana, officially opened the new office in the Ghanaian capital to promote Dubai as an international business hub and strengthen economic and trade ties with Ghana.

The new office in Ghana marks the second office opened in Africa. The first, in Ethiopia, was inaugurated in 2013. These developments underscore the commitment of the Dubai Chamber to strengthening economic ties with Africa.

During the two-day trade mission to Ghana the Dubai Chamber delegation held a private meeting with the Vice President of Ghana, H.E. Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who encouraged increased investment in his country in key sectors, including energy, real estate and agriculture, citing a stable investment climate and democratic credentials. H.E. Amissah-Arthur commended Dubai Chamber for opening its new office in Accra and gave assurances of government support.

The delegation also participated in a host of other activities, including a Ghana Economic Outlook & Business Strategy Conference, which was attended by 200 businessmen and government heads. A roundtable was also organized, which saw the participation of several authorities and 25 C-level heads, as well as a Dubai briefing session for Ghanaian businessmen and women- 150 in total.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Accra office, H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber said, “The launch of this office is an important development in the expansion of Dubai Chamber’s footprint in Africa and sends a strong signal of our commitment to enhance ties both in Ghana and in the West Africa region.”

“I would like to thank our Ghanaian government and business partners, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose support and cooperation has enabled us to start a new era in Dubai and Ghana’s relationship,” he added.

The inauguration of the Accra office is a perpetuation of the Dubai Chamber’s strategy of exploring untapped markets in the world. In addition, the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, emphasise enhancing bilateral ties with Africa. This theme has also been reiterated at the Africa Global Business Forum organised annually by Dubai Chamber, with the last event held in October 2014.

Ghana stands out as a beacon of safe investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to a strong GDP growth forecast and stable political environment conducive for business. Furthermore, Dubai businesses can use Ghana as a gateway to expand their reach to 250 million consumers in the region.

As a truly world-class city, Dubai’s open door policy, its user-friendly corporate climate, infrastructural development, logistics and world-class banking and financial facilities will serve Ghana to strengthen its bilateral ties with businesses in the Middle East region and beyond.

“This new office will open up a wave of opportunities for Dubai businesses and their competitiveness to reach out to the West African region while facilitating Ghanaian enterprises to use Dubai as an ideal gateway for Ghanaian exports to the Middle East region, South East Asia and Europe”, added H.E. Buamim.

Also speaking at the office inauguration, Hon. Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah, Minister for Trade and Industry, Ghana praised this development and stated that the new office is a manifestation of successful preceding trade and business forums and will help take the two countries’ bilateral relations to a higher level.

Dr. Garbrah added: “The opening of this office also reflects the commitment of the UAE and Ghana governments in enhancing trade ties.

He said that the opening of the new office also reflects the commitments of Dubai and Ghana to enhance trade ties as total non-oil trade between the two partners rose to AED 8.9 billion in 2013.

On the day after the office inauguration ceremony, a forum exploring synergies for economic partnerships between Dubai and Ghana was held at the Movenpick Hotel. The session was attended by various dignitaries including H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber, H.E. Alhaji Yakubu, Consul General, Consulate of the Republic of Ghana, and Hon. Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Trade and Industry, who delivered a keynote address.

Dubai and Ghana’s bilateral relationship has been ongoing with key milestones being the Africa Global Business Forum held in October 2014 in Dubai, and the Ghana Country Focus Briefing, which took place in June last year. The latter event was held in conjunction with the Ghana Consulate General and the Economist Intelligence Unit.

www.dubaichamber.com

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