The Netherlands and Ghana are strong economic partners. The Netherlands is amongst the top five foreign investors and trade partners of Ghana. Total trade between the two countries in 2020 was valued at EUR 2.2 billion (GHC 28.5bilion). Top Dutch exports to Ghana include machinery, chemical products, and electronics, while the top imports from Ghana are agricultural products, particularly cocoa and fruits.
Dutch companies are also major investors in Ghana, with a total investment of €3.3 billion as of 2019 and over 150 companies present, making the Netherlands one of the largest foreign investors in the country. This investment is mainly focused on agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors, which are seen as key drivers of economic growth.
The Netherlands is keen on deepening its partnership with Ghana, mainly in the fields of the cocoa and horticultural value chains. During the working visit of the President, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the Netherlands in September 2022, both of our countries further explored areas of cooperation in these sectors. The delegation visited the cocoa processing plants in Zaandam and an horticultural innovation hub in the Westland and here the partnership in these areas was boosted, leading to a renewed strategy to attract more investments in Ghana.
The trade relations between the Netherlands and Ghana are robust, with strong investments and mutually beneficial trade agreements. To expand this relationship further, a delegation led by the Dutch Vice Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, H.E. Hanneke Schuiling, opened the exploratory talks on the renegotiation of the Bilateral Investment Treaty between our nations.
The Netherlands’ investment in Ghana has helped to drive economic growth and development in the country, while Ghana’s exports of agricultural products, particularly cocoa, have contributed to the Dutch economy. With the ongoing support of the Dutch government and private sector, the trade relationship between the two countries is expected to continue to grow and prosper in the coming years.
