Trade volumes between Ghana and the Netherlands are expected to double within the next three to four years, following increased economic engagements between the two countries.
The figure which is currently estimated at six hundred thousand Euros, is expected to hit more than one million Euros within the period.
“Anything is possible and I hope that the figures will double within the next three to four years,” the Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, Ron Strikker told citibusinessnews.com.
“Though I am unsure of what may happen, one thing that I am certain of is that the Dutch government, the Embassy and the Dutch private sector will do its utmost to make that happen,” He added.
Reports from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) indicate that Netherlands is among the top ten sources of FDIs to Ghana for 2016.
The country’s contribution to FDIs to Ghana was the highest in the first quarter of 2016.
It contributed 65.56 million dollars out of a total of 157.57 million dollars.
Though Netherlands’ contribution to FDIs to Ghana however dropped to 3.5 and 3.33 million dollars for the second and third quarters of 2016 respectively, it still remained among the top ten sources of FDIs to Ghana.
The Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, Ron Strikker, also tells Citi Business News the increased investments coupled with an anticipated increase in economic growth, should attract more Dutch businesses to invest and grow the local economy.
“But of course economic development is a very sort of continuous process and the Netherlands hope to benefit from the bettering of the economy for the prospects of both countries.”
Commenting on whether the Dutch government intends to invest further in the Ghanaian economy, Mr. Sttriker explained that the investments in the enterprise sector are targeted at having a rippling effect across other sectors of the economy.
“What we see today is that we are setting up a project through a private initiative as we consider entrepreneurs as so enormously essential for the development of Ghana as is the case in the Netherlands.”
Meanwhile Ambassador Ron Strikker has urged Ghanaian authorities to create the needed economic and commercial climate for businesses to thrive.
According to him, these will include; transparency, good rule of law system, certainty for long term investments, education and infrastructure.
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)