Ali Adolf John and other stakeholders at the Summit
The Center for Policy Development has launched the 3rd Northern Trade, Industry and Investment Summit, in Tamale in the Northern region.
This was in collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, University for Development Studies, Northern Development Authority, Ghana Free Zones Authority, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Enterprise Agency, Ghana Investment Promotion Center, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Exim Bank, and Northern Regional Coordinating Council.
The Executive Director of Center for Policy Development, Ismail Yahuza, said the objective of the Trade, Industry and Investment Summit is to create jobs, reduce unemployment and uplift the living standards of the people of the North.
“The only way we can bridge the gap between the North and the South is to improve on economic activities,” he said.
He disclosed that this year’s summit themed, “Enhancing Trade & Industrial Growth through Strategic Investments and Accelerated Export” will include a grand durbar, conferences and seminars, trade exhibitions and an awards night to climax the event and motivate businesses to do more for others to emulate.
The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, speaking at the launch noted that the summit is a platform where investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and development actors converge to connect ideas with funding, challenges with solutions, and aspirations with tangible outcomes.
“Our focus is to explore how strategic investment can ignite industrial growth, and how a deliberate push toward export-led development can elevate the Northern Region onto the global economic stage,” he said.
The Northern Regional Minister, indicated that the region is rich, not only in natural resources, but in human capital, cultural heritage, and cross-border trade potential.
“With vast arable lands, emerging agro-industries, and a youthful entrepreneurial population, the region is well positioned to become a hub for Agro-processing. What we need now is targeted investment, investment that is smart, sustainable, and inclusive. Investment that brings jobs, improves infrastructure, builds local capacity, and opens markets beyond our borders,” he added. “Let us not forget, our domestic market is important, but it is only the beginning. If we are to industrialise and grow sustainably, we must produce to export. We must add value to what we grow and create and connect it to markets across Africa and the world. Through strategic partnerships, better trade facilitation, and targeted support for SMEs and cooperatives, we can turn Tamale and the wider Northern belt into an export-ready zone, one that contributes meaningfully to Ghana’s goals under initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
He assured stakeholders of the government’s unwavering commitment to promoting industrialisation and investment across all parts of Ghana, through programmes such as the Big Push, 24hr economy, business development entrepreneurship, and agriculture and agri business development amongst many others.
“We are therefore laying the foundation for a more resilient and diversified economy. We will continue to work to improve infrastructure, create a conducive business environment, and reduce barriers to investment and export, because we believe that real transformation happens when the private sector thrives,” he said.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale