The Launching of Ghana-Malaysia Business Club H.E Dato’ Hajjah Razinah, the High Commissioner hosted the launching event of the Ghana-Malaysia Business Club(GMBC) on 30 September 2009 at the official residence. The Honourable Mr. Ato Ahwoi from the Office of the President inaugurated the GMBC in the presence of about 50 guests from business entities in Ghana. The High Commission play an advisory role in the GMBC while the Executive Committee is expected to be formalised soon. The GMBC is a non-profit organisation whose main objectives among others is to encourage developmental cooperation by promoting investments and bilateral trade between the private entities of the two countries; to foster close and cordial bilateral relations and cooperation between Ghana and Malaysia; and to provide opportunity for business net-workings between the business entities from both countries. The membership of the Club would be extended to CEO’s or Directors of private companies in Ghana and Malaysia while few in the Government would be invited to join as Honorary Members. During her welcoming speech, H.E Dato’ High Commissioner thanked the Honourable Mr. Ato Ahwoi who has consented to grace the event as well as to launch the Club. Those who were present were also thanked, especially Mr. Samuel Adetola , the Founder and CEO of the Capital Group and his team who were involved in the drafting of the Club’s constitution and organizing the launching event. H.E Dato’ High Commissioner expressed hope that in the days ahead the GMBC would be able to attract more membership among individuals, firms and companies in Ghana and Malaysia who would be interested to promote and do business in both countries. HE Dato’ High Commissioner related that the GMBC is formed MERELY out of concerns and interest of several business entities in Ghana to promote closer bilateral economic cooperation and collaboration, most particular in trade, business and investment between Ghana and Malaysia. Businessmen who had visited Malaysia in the past have seen many opportunities and potentials on the ground which they thought could benefit their companies, especially in the form of collaboration and joint-ventures. Having a Club where everybody could come together and discuss about business, exchange ideas, solving problems together and at the same established contacts and networking was thought by H.E Dato High Commissioner as an excellent opportunity for the members to organize any programme or activities in a better manner.
H.E Dato High Commissioner remarked that the formation of the GMBC is both timely and opportune. Firstly due to the fact that not many Malaysians businessmen are fully aware of the business and investment potentials that exist in Ghana and there are still misconceptions about Ghana in this field. Likewise not all Ghanaian businessmen know what Malaysia could offer, especially in term of its expertise, particularly in the financial and service sector, agriculture, information technology (IT), tourism and education sector. H.E Dato' High Commissioner would like Malaysian businessmen to view Ghana as Africa's 'golden gateway'. She stressed that although Ghana's domestic market is small, but it is growing given the country's sustained growth for a number of years. Having a population of approximately 22 million, there is no doubt that Ghana has to expand its market by having a lot of trading activities across the border with other West African countries and as a founding member of ECOWAS, Ghana could serve as a spring board for Malaysian goods and commodities to penetrate into the West African market of 250 million consumers. Similarly, Ghanaians should view Malaysia as a gateway to other ASEAN integrated market of over 500 million.
H.E Dato' High Commisioner attributed the small volume of trade between Malaysia and Ghana to the indirect importation of goods and products from Malaysia through a third country. She therefore encouraged businessmen in Ghana to have a direct trading with Malaysia. Last but not least, H.E Dato' High Commissioner was hopeful that the GMBC could supplement the High Commission's efforts to educate and disseminate useful information to the public to combat fraud and trade malpractices where many businessmen became victims.
