Hilda Famaey, new General Manager, GNBCC shares her vision for the Chamber in an exclusive interview with Evans KORANTENG, Lead Consultant, Field Media and PR Ghana
FM: In your estimation, what is the current bilateral relationship between Ghana and the Netherlands?
HF: Trade is a central pillar of Ghana-Netherlands relations: Ghana’s exports to the Netherlands amount to 522 million $ (*) whereas The Netherlands exports approximately 1.58 Billion $ (*) to Ghana. Ghana mainly exports cocoa, fruits (especially pineapples and bananas), timber, fish, and minerals. The Netherlands mainly export refined petroleum, poultry meat, margarine and machinery.
The Dutch government and companies have been active in supporting Ghana’s agriculture and water management sectors, providing technology and expertise to improve food security and sustainability. Economic ties have deepened in recent years, shifting from aid to trade and investment:
- Dutch businesses have been increasing their investment presence in Ghana, especially in renewable energy, agribusiness, logistics, and port infrastructure.
- The Netherlands-African Business Council (NABC) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) have supported several trade missions and business forums to foster partnerships.
- There is a focus on private sector development, with Dutch support for Ghanaian SMEs, entrepreneurship training, and innovation hubs.
I believe this economic collaboration will continue to grow and create opportunities both for Ghanaian and Dutch companies.
(*2023)
FM: What is your vision for the GNBCC, are there any projects or programs that you will be working on in that regard? What are these programs and what do they aim to achieve?
H.F: The GNBCC’s main mission is to facilitate trade between Ghana and the Netherlands.
We aim to achieve this through different tools:
a) Assistance to existing companies and potentially new investors:
- Government policy updates: keeping up-to-date with the economic and legal framework is essential for businesses to thrive and anticipate changes. GNBCC offers regular updates, webinars, and Q&A sessions, helping members stay tuned with changing opportunities, legal requirements and government policies. This is done in collaboration with government agencies and consultancy firms like PWC.
- Tailored assistance in all business matters to Dutch companies in Ghana and potential investors from The Netherlands
b) The Royal Netherlands Embassy has entrusted the GNBCC with the Private Sector Development program. We actively work together with the Embassy to create opportunities for Ghanaian and Dutch companies with – amongst others – the following initiatives:
- The Export Bridge: we offer tailored export assistance to Ghanaian businesses in the agro-processing sector seeking to export to The Netherlands: we assist in establishing commercial partnerships for Ghanaian SME’s. Finding trusted commercial partners in Europe is essential for successful market entry. GNBCC is leveraging its network to facilitate introductions to potential buyers, distributors, and retail partners in the Netherlands We trust that this matchmaking service will be invaluable for Ghanaian exporters to build a sustainable presence in The Netherlands and potentially in Europe.
- Women in Business: the GNBCC organizes mentorship programs, trainings and workshops for women active in the horticulture sector with the aim to grow their business and create employment.
- Horticulture Business Challenge: this program focusses on training and internships for students and young graduates from Ghana and The Netherlands to support the growth, job creation and development of Ghanaian horticulture businesses. This program also aims to introduce Dutch companies to the opportunities in the Ghanaian horticulture market.
- The SME desk: assistance for Ghanaian SME’s in the agriculture sector with accountancy, sales and marketing as well as navigating the regulatory framework. The SME desk will also enhance the services for Dutch investors entering the Ghanaian market.
FM: What do you think is the appetite or interest of your home-country investors for investing and seeking business opportunities in Ghana? How is your outfit working to promote this?
H.F: With the new government and the statement “Ghana is open for Business”, companies in The Netherlands are certainly keen on navigating opportunities to invest in Ghana. A few Dutch companies, existing and potentially new investors have already informed the GNBCC about investment plans and expansion intentions.
- In collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Embassy, we assist in organizing trade missions to actively promote Ghana as an investment destination
- From the 26th to the 28th of May, there is a trade mission inviting companies (currently 23) coming from The Netherlands to explore investment opportunities in Ghana.
- We actively promote the European Business forum taking place in the Kempinski Hotel from the 20th to the 22nd of May, attracting companies active in Agribusiness, Pharmaceuticals and Energy
- We sponsor the Ghana Agro Food Fair taking place from the 28th to the 30th of October
- We work together with NLinBusiness who’s mission it is to assist Dutch entrepreneurs to expand their company worldwide .
FM: What is your own assessment of how Ghana is developing, and how is your country supporting this process?
H.F: I have been in Ghana for the past 20 years and the economic landscape has developed tremendously.
There is still room for improvement to create an enhanced investment climate. I like to use objective factors in assessing the business environment and I recommend to read the Business Ready report from the World Bank: this contains all the KPI’s and a roadmap to continuing the journey to put Ghana on the map as a great investment destination.
The GNBCC, serves as a bridge between the needs of the Dutch investors and government institutions to facilitate the lifting of any hurdles companies may encounter and to promote investment in Ghana with the assistance of the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the GIPC.
The increased trade between Ghana and the Netherlands over the past few years as well as the different programs such as the Private Sector Development program, the Orange Knowledge program, Orange Corners etc… is a tribute to the support for the development of the Ghanaian economy.
FM: What is the future of bilateral relations with Ghana?
H.F: The relationship between Ghana and The Netherlands moves towards a new, equal and mutually beneficial way of working that supports Ghana’s ambition to move beyond aid, attract investment and deepen trade relations. For the next four years the Netherlands in Ghana will implement a combined approach, encouraging Dutch businesses to invest in Ghana and to use their expertise to make a meaningful contribution to the development goals of the country.
I believe as Ghana moves from aid to trade and investments, there is a bright future, both for Ghanaian companies wishing to expand their market into The Netherlands and Europe in general as well as Dutch companies broadening their scope into Africa.
FM: Can you share with us; your working and educational life.
H.F: I joined the GNBCC as general manager on the 1st of February 2025.
Before joining GNBCC, I worked for Shell in Belgium and was part of the team starting up and developing Promasidor Ghana Ltd., better known through its brand names Cowbell and Onga from 1998 to 2018.
I was a co-founder of Kenyio Ltd., a Ghanaian business creating and producing local quality food products with distribution in West-Africa and in Europe.
I graduated from the Solvay Business School (Free University of Brussels) with an M.Sc. in Business Engineering.
