Dutch Trade Investors Collaborate with Ghana’s Horticultural Sector

An 11 member trade mission from the Netherlands horticulture sector is visiting Ghana from June 13-15 to explore business and investments opportunities.  The delegation is led by the Dutch Topsector on Horticulture in order to establish a network with government, knowledge institutes and the private sector.

The mission members come from a wide variety of horticultural technology and knowledge providers. For example Celtic Cooling works on cold storage facilities; and there are three seed Companies; Takii Seeds, Suba Seeds and Enza Seeds. In addition, Bio Invest a financial Institution take part, as well as Dutch greenhouse equipment suppliers; Green Farming, and an organic fertilizer company, Agri BSA. Also an investment broker, YBE, participates in the mission and a company, called Ominivent, specialized in potato and onion storage solutions. Lastly, two engineering and consultancy companies are part of the mission, Haskoning and Delphy.

The Netherlands horticulture sector accounts for €12.5 billion in domestic production, and €17 billion in exports and provides jobs to more than 450,000 people. The delegation will hold matchmaking sessions with Ghanaian businesses to discuss business partnerships and investments.

The mission coincides with the 3^rd GhanaVeg Fruit and Vegetable Fair which brings together 50 Ghanaian companies representing the entire vegetable value chain. The opening of the Trade Fair, which is held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, is undertaken by the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mr. Ron Strikker and the Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry, Hon. Robert Ahomka-Lindsay .

Speaking on the theme “Fruits and Vegetables made in Ghana” H.E. Mr. Ron Strikker indicated that the “trade delegation exemplifies the Netherlands governments’ focus on promoting agriculture through private sector investments, gradually moving from Aid to Trade. The mission and trade fair clearly resonate the motto of Holland and Ghana growing together”.

On Thursday 15 June, GhanaVeg is organizing a Business Platform Meeting in which agronomic issues will be discussed and the Road Map for Pest Reduction in Ghana’s Vegetable Export Sector. In addition, GhanaVeg will make use of the occasion to honor seven companies for their innovative contributions to the sector. In the presence of the

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, seven companies will receive the so-called GhanaVeg Awards. GhanaVeg programme leader, Joep van den Broek, said the horticulture sector is steadily gaining ground, and productivity and income at farmer level is increasing. “We at GhanaVeg are optimistic that this trade mission will further contribute to the increase in fruits and vegetables Made in Ghana; and that gradually also exports will increase again.  We sincerely hope that as many people as possible will visit the Trade Fair between 13 and 15 June and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.