By
Benjamin Akoto, GNA
Koforidua, Oct. 19, GNA – A seven member
delegation from Suqian City in Northern Jiangsu Province of the People’s
Republic of China, has visited the Eastern Region and signed a memorandum of
understanding with the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council.
The visit formed part of efforts to strengthen
bilateral ties between the City of Suqian and the Eastern Regional Coordinating
Council as well as explore business opportunities in the Region to promote
economic growth and create jobs for the people.
The parties agree to foster and promote
cooperation in investment, sustainable industrialization, export development,
solution oriented research, science and technology development as well as trade
and commerce.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Eric Kwakye
Darfour, briefing the delegation said the Akosombo and Kpong dams present a
high potential for irrigation farming, inland fishing, water transport, sports
and tourism as well as sources for drinking water for settlements.
He said the extensive range of forest island
such as the Atewa-Atwaredu , Akuapem and the Krobo and Shai hills have plains
and heights that offer various potentials for agriculture production and
industrial development.
Mr Darfour said the Region was endowed with
minerals such as gold, diamonds, bauxite, limestone, Kaolin and clay, however,
gold and diamonds were the commercially mined minerals.
He expressed the belief that such resources
could be leveraged and used to develop the Region and create more jobs for the
inhabitants.
“We know the capacity of China, its influence
in industry, commerce, education and we would want to take advantage of what
you can offer,” he emphasised.
He then assured the delegation that the
Regional Coordinating Council will help facilitate the activities of business
investors from China who intended to explore business and economic potentials
in the Region.
The Deputy Executive Director of the Standing
Committee of Suqian Municipal People’s Congress, Mr Ye Hui who led the
delegation, said their city had an area size of 8,555 meter square with a
population of 5,910,000.
He said the city produced mechanical and
electrical equipment, food and beverage, textile and clothing, green building
materials, laser equipment, smart household equipment and fashionable
materials.
The Chinese delegation was accompanied by two
Ghanaians Duku Kofi Benneh and Ms Irene Okyere through whose efforts made the
Suqian City to delegate people to explore business potentials in the Region.
The team as part of their activities visited
the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at New Tafo.
GNA