The agreements which were signed at the Second Ghana-Malta Business Forum in Accra yesterday are expected to serve as a springboard for Ghanaian businesses to gain access to the European market with Malta as the gateway.

The Accra Technical University (ATU) signed with Malta College for Arts, Science, and Technology, while Impact Hub signed with Malta Enterprise.

Azofa Akosombo Fisheries and Aquabiotics also signed an agreement to help develop the countries fisheries sector.

Diplomatic bond

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, said Ghana and Malta had much in common as countries nurturing the private sector to accelerate development.

He said a bond of friendship that had existed between Ghana and Malta over the decades was based on shared values and a common historical heritage as well as mutual respect.

“These relations have been strengthened by exchange of diplomatic visits at the very high level by the President of Malta in July 2017, and our President in March, 2019.

But beyond that, Malta has established its first diplomatic mission in sub-Saharan Africa in Ghana, while Ghana is also the first sub-Saharan country to establish a diplomatic mission in Malta,” the minister added.

Mr Kyerematen further indicated that the country’s collaboration with Malta was strategic and vital for the development of the private sector as Ghana sought to enter the European market under the Economic Partnership Agreement.

Significance

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Yofi Grant, who co-organised the forum with his Maltese counterpart, later told the

Daily Graphic in an interview that the agreements would afford Ghanaian traders easy access to markets in the European Union.

He said the agreement with the GSA would also ensure that products from Ghana into the EU market met required standards.

The Director-General of the GSA, Prof. Alex Dodoo, also said the agreement reached with their Maltese counterpart would make it possible for local firms to expand their businesses by venturing into the EU market.

For instance, he said the agreement with the Malta Medicines Authority would help local pharmaceutical firms to export into the EU market without restrictions once they met accepted standards.

He said although there was an existing cooperation between the Malta Medicines Authority and Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the MoU would “complement the work done with FDA to ensure that exports of pharmaceuticals would be made possible”.

Dr Dodoo further said the agreement reached with Aquabiotics would help develop the country’s aquaculture sector to boost fish production.

Mutual benefits

The Minister of Economy, Investment and Small Businesses in Malta, Mr Silvio Schembri, said Ghana must consider Malta as its home and the partnership between the two countries as one for growth and economic prospects.

“We are facilitating opportunities for Ghana and Malta through our high commissions and other national partners,” he added.

The delegation is expected to hold other meetings with Ghanaian businesses to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.