Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC) is striving for a healthy, competitive and transparent business investment climate for Ghanaian and foreign investment community, General Manager-GNBCC, Tjalling Yme Wiarda, has said.
According to him, the council has been championing the course of advocacy for its members; especially Dutch companies which have invested in Ghana over the past years – noting that together with other business councils and AGI, his outfit will keep informing government and advocating for pro-business investment measures.
He also noted that his office has always welcomed Dutch investors who visit to seek advice and information on business ventures in Ghana.
Wiarda made this known during an interview with the Business and Financial Times (B&FT), but cited the general economic situation, inflation, increased taxation, local content measures, and corruption among others as some of the hindrances to carrying out business with ease in Ghana.
He added that the council’s membership cuts across a broad spectrum of network comprising companies in horticulture, cocoa production, poultry, shipping, freight forwarding, air cargo, import/export, company lawyers, banking, insurance and properties, saying: “From that network, we can offer reliable and proven business partners here in Ghana in such a way to ensure their first steps as investors are successful”.
With regard to its future, he said there are prospectf of success for GNBCC; since although investing in Ghana was challenging during the Covid-era, its conducive business climate as well as vast investment opportunities have attracted a lot of the councils’ members to invest in the country.
“During the COVID-19 era, the airport was closed and businesses dried-up; but, for now, the embassy’s PSD project has stabilised GNBCC by decreasing dependency on only assignments and membership. This has created a third engine, and with it comes an increase in the experience of our staff. So, the future looks bright for our members,” he explained.
