By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |
A renowned academician and investment consultant, Prof. Paul N. Buatsi has charged the Volta Regional Minister, to as a matter of urgency, put in measures to change the face of the region to attract appreciable amounts of investment into the region saying, “first impressions matter.”
Prof. Buatsi who among other things mentioned a favourable investment climate as a factor that could attract investors into the region also pointed out physical infrastructure especially road as critical to bringing investors emphasing that a first time visitor (investor) who encountered difficulty travelling to the region would be discouraged from investing in the region.
According to him, Volta Region (Oti inclusive) “holds a lot of promise as an investment destination and should not fight shy of flaunting her credentials proudly and prominently” and asked that conscious efforts were taken to harness these potentials which include Travel and Tourism (natural, man-made, cultural attractions, hospitality and historical), Garment Production, Wind Energy, Agriculture, Quarry, Mining (lithium, gold, diamond), Oil and Gas to create wealth and impact on the quality of life of the people in the region.
He made the call while addressing participants as the Guest Speaker at the launch of the 4th edition of Volta Trade, Investment and Cultural Fair on Thursday at the auditorium of Ho Technical University (HTU).
The 2019 Fair which is slated for November 25 to December 8, 2019 and is expected to host all 26 districts across Volta and Oti regions to showcase indigenous products and services as well as network with foreign partners is under the theme, “Sustainable Investment Growth through Trade Promotion”.
In a speech to officially launch the Fair, Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa said it was important for both regions to industrialise so as to progress and break out of the poverty cycle saying, “industry is the heartbeat of the private sector. And the private sector is the nerve centre f our local economy.”
Dr. Letsa predicted that over 200 exhibitors from the region and beyond and outside Ghana with over 2,000 visitors would be participating in the event and called on the business community to fully participate in the Fair to their advantage because it would be featuring “business to business group meetings, technical seminars and matchmaking sessions.”
Deputy Oti Regional Minister, Maxwell Kofi Blagodzi was grateful for the joint Trade Fair which he believed would help both regions in terms of development.
According to Mr. Blagodzi, the creation of Oti from Volta must not be seen as a “divorce but a separation” which would inure to the benefit of both regions saying, he looked forward to more collaborations until “Oti Region is weaned off Volta Region.”
Also in attendance at the launch chaired by Paramount Chief of Avatime, Osie Adjah Tekpor VII, were dignitaries including Indian High Commissioner, Representatives of development partners (GIZ), Vice Chancellors of UHAS and HTU and Chairman of AGI Eastern/Volta-Chapter.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com