The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Gerhard Brugger has called for a more balanced trade relation between Ghana and Switzerland in the future.
Mr. Brugger, who was speaking at the 723rd Swiss national day held at his residence in Accra, revealed that Ghana enjoys a huge part of Swiss-Ghana trade cooperation largely because the main trading commodities between both countries are gold and cocoa.
According to him, Ghana remains the largest supplier of cocoa beans to Swiss’ famous chocolate industry, adding that “I wish that the trade balance between both countries will become more balanced in future and that it will contain many more non-traditional export products from Ghana”.
With regards to the economic prospect of the bilateral relations, the Ambassador revealed that his outfit in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is piloting an innovative model on new types of work-place cooperation in SMEs in Ghana.
Ambassador Brugger said that the newly-opened Swiss Ghana Chamber of Commerce would further increase business opportunities for the development of small and medium scaled enterprises (SME) in both countries.
“Indeed, SMEs are the backbone of the Swiss economy and so shall it be for Ghana. I am happy to note that I can count on a vibrant Swiss Ghanaian Chamber of Commerce to support our common efforts in this endeavor” he said.
He further explained that the Swiss Chamber would support the Ghanaian business community by providing a forum for networking, information exchange for members, advisory services and advocacy.
The Ambassador also lauded Ghana’s remarkable record of democratic achievements such as the peaceful conduct of elections and transfer of power, which according to him; enables the Ghanaian people to hold authorities more accountable.
In response, Hon. Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister of State for Public Private Partnerships, on behalf of government congratulated Switzerland on the commemoration of its 723rd anniversary as a nation, adding that the government of Ghana is looking forward to more mutually-beneficial partnerships with Switzerland in the future.
Also in attendance to mark the occasion were some members of the Ghanaian diplomatic community including Colombian Ambassador Claudia Quintero, Brazilian Ambassador Vida Gala, and Israeli Ambassador Sharon Bar-li, among others.
By: Prince Asare, Diplomatic Call
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