Accra, Feb. 15, - Mr Alan
Kyerematen has stated the Government’s commitment to work on good tariff
regimes and progressively diversify energy sources for local industries to
favourably compete both at the domestic and international levels.
Mr Kyerematen gave the assurance
when he toured the industrial facilities of Sentuo Steel Company Limited and
Sentuo Ceramic Tiles, Ghana in Tema in the Greater Accra Region.
He said the Government had
developed 10 new industrial parks across the country to maximise the potential
towards job creation and effectively anchor the country’s industrialisation
programme.
These initiatives, the Minister
said, were seen as critical strategies for economic development in countries
around the world.
He said the Government’s agenda
for economic growth and job creation was underpinned by a programme of rapid
and aggressive industrialisation and value addition, especially in
agro-processing and vibrant manufacturing.
He said there was the need to
diversify the economy beyond cocoa and gold and invest in other manufacturing
products through public-private partnership to drive the needed transformation
for the nation.
This, he explained, would meet
the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda, which would utilise the human and natural
resources base to develop the economy and create jobs for the citizenry.
He commended the management of
Sentuo Steel Limited for such investments, adding that the Government would
support local industries to expand their production and provide job
opportunities for Ghanaians.
He said the ban on the export of
scraps materials was timely and a major step that would allow the Steel
companies to harness the raw materials and create jobs for the teeming
population.
Mr Kyerematen commended the
company for establishing a Ceramic Tiles Company, which had the capacity to
supply the needs of Ghana and Africa and beyond.
He said the Company would source
local materials for their production, thereby creating employment and be adding
value to its products to be competitive in the world market, as well.
He said in March the Heads of
States of the Africa Union would sign for the Continental Free Trade Area
agreement that would allow countries to produce any products from any location
in Africa and export with duty free.
Mr Xu Ning Quan, the Managing
Director of Sentuo Steel Company, suggested to the Minister to collaborate with
the Energy Minister to work on the cost of energy for the Steel companies,
which had been a challenge in their production.
He said their businesses were
well poised and with the needed support and the enabling environment, they
would build strong facilities to expand beyond the country.
Caption
GNA
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