By Kofi AHOVI
The Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) has approved a total of 13 out of 23 applications received from investors for the first half of 2010. Interestingly, the Board received a total of 13 applications for the first half of this year, but there was a backlog of 10 applications from 2009 for consideration.
The 13 approved companies were made up of two each in the service sector and commercial sector and nine in the manufacturing sector. The total capital invested by the enterprises for the first half of this year is estimated at US$122 million. The value of production by the enterprises for the same period is US$431 million, while the value of export is US$691 million.
Employment figure recorded for the same period is 30,969 comprising 50,006 Ghanaians and 963 expatriates. Total duties paid on sales into the local market as at the end of the first half year of 2010 is estimated at US$1.10 million, while an estimated amount of US$641.939 was spent on training Ghanaian employees.
Also, the free zone enterprises paid an estimated amount of US$3.26 million in social security contributions, while US$3.55 million was also paid as income tax for their employees for the period under review.
During the first half of this year, GFZB participated in two local trade fairs and six international trade missions. The Board also designed and printed new brochures to meet international standards and also added information which hitherto was not included in the handouts and brochures. The new brochure is titled “Investors’ Guide”. It has separate information on incentives, the economy, procedure for establishment, enclave and why locate in Ghana, among others.
The Ghana Free Zones Board, the government agency responsible for the implementation of the free zones programme, is achieving positive results.
Its importance and expected role requires the Board to be the channel through which the export-led development policy of the country is achieved.
In view of this, the Board has positioned itself to provide the needed infrastructure and efficient services to investors in the free zone.
Apart from the obvious developments to make the Ghana Free Zones Programme investor friendly, Ghana is strategically located with West Africa easy access to one of Africa's biggest markets with a population of 250 million people.
The location of Ghana, as well as the relative stability of the country, makes it a gateway for regional trade and investment. Ghana also has other unique advantages compared to other locations in the sub-region.
The unique advantage Ghana possesses, coupled with the generous incentives and the efficient services provided by the GFZB, make the business environment more than ready to provide maximum returns on investment.
The Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) has approved a total of 13 out of 23 applications received from investors for the first half of 2010. Interestingly, the Board received a total of 13 applications for the first half of this year, but there was a backlog of 10 applications from 2009 for consideration.
The 13 approved companies were made up of two each in the service sector and commercial sector and nine in the manufacturing sector. The total capital invested by the enterprises for the first half of this year is estimated at US$122 million. The value of production by the enterprises for the same period is US$431 million, while the value of export is US$691 million.
Employment figure recorded for the same period is 30,969 comprising 50,006 Ghanaians and 963 expatriates. Total duties paid on sales into the local market as at the end of the first half year of 2010 is estimated at US$1.10 million, while an estimated amount of US$641.939 was spent on training Ghanaian employees.
Also, the free zone enterprises paid an estimated amount of US$3.26 million in social security contributions, while US$3.55 million was also paid as income tax for their employees for the period under review.
During the first half of this year, GFZB participated in two local trade fairs and six international trade missions. The Board also designed and printed new brochures to meet international standards and also added information which hitherto was not included in the handouts and brochures. The new brochure is titled “Investors’ Guide”. It has separate information on incentives, the economy, procedure for establishment, enclave and why locate in Ghana, among others.
The Ghana Free Zones Board, the government agency responsible for the implementation of the free zones programme, is achieving positive results.
Its importance and expected role requires the Board to be the channel through which the export-led development policy of the country is achieved.
In view of this, the Board has positioned itself to provide the needed infrastructure and efficient services to investors in the free zone.
Apart from the obvious developments to make the Ghana Free Zones Programme investor friendly, Ghana is strategically located with West Africa easy access to one of Africa's biggest markets with a population of 250 million people.
The location of Ghana, as well as the relative stability of the country, makes it a gateway for regional trade and investment. Ghana also has other unique advantages compared to other locations in the sub-region.
The unique advantage Ghana possesses, coupled with the generous incentives and the efficient services provided by the GFZB, make the business environment more than ready to provide maximum returns on investment.
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