Mrs. Ozlem Ergün Uluesen, the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana
Mrs. Ozlem Ergün Uluesen, the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana paid a courtesy call on the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) to discuss trade and investment relations between Ghana and Turkey and as well as planning for the upcoming Turkey-Ghana Business Forum in August this year.
The purpose of the visit was to propose a partnership with the Chamber and to enquire about the specific areas of collaboration, trade, investment, and economic possibilities available to the Ghanaian business community.
In her remarks, Mrs. Özlem Ergün Ulueren stated that, Ghana has been a key partner of Turkey for many years, and the aim of her visit was to strengthen the partnership. She mentioned that Ghana has an immense opportunity in all sectors, including but not limited to agribusiness, vocational training, construction, energy development and education. According to her, the Ghana-Turkey B2B forum is very timely for the two countries to explore opportunities for mutual benefits. “I am optimistic this initiative would undoubtedly have the tendency to turn the economic fortunes of the two countries and also create employment opportunities”
Mr. Clement Osei – Amoako, President of the Chamber, welcomed the Ambassador and reiterated Ghana’s long-standing relationship with Turkey. He recalled the visit of Turkish President H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Ghana in 2016, as well as the fact that Turkey was the only country to which the Chamber led business delegations twice last year. He expressed his excitement at the ambassador’s intention to strengthen and enhance current trade ties.
The CEO of the Chamber (Mr. Mark Badu-Aboagye) gave a brief review of the Chamber’s leadership initiatives in the Ghanaian private sector and stated that the Chamber prioritizes the Ghana-Turkey relationship.
Dr. Mrs. Emelia Assiakwa (National Treasurer) of the the Chamber indictaed Ghana-Turkey’s economic relationship has grown from strength to strength especially in the last decade as Turkey’s overall Africa policy began to take shape. The Bilateral trade and investment in the Ghanaian economy by Turkish companies have grown significantly. “I am therefore requesting that this opportunity takes into consideration SMEs, particularly women-owned businesses in Ghana, in order to provide them with funding and capacity-building opportunities.”
The President expressed his appreciation to the ambassador for her visit and reiterates the Chamber’s readiness to work together with the embassy to prepare for the business forum and reassured that the Chamber will play a significant role to make the B2B forum a success.
Present at the meeting were the Mr. Clement Osei Amoako (President, GNCCI), Dr. Mrs. Emelia Assiakwa (National Treasurer, GNCCI), Mr. Mark Badu-Aboagye (CEO, GNCCI), Mr. Frederick Adu-Amoako (Head of Operations, GNCCI), Mr. Peter Atsu Dotse (Communications, GNCCI).