“Huge business opportunities for Lankans in Ghana”
The Sri Lankan business community is yet to tap the huge investment opportunities that are available in Ghana, said the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka to Ghana, Wasantha Perera. This is the first time in diplomatic history a consul general was appointed by Sri Lanka to Ghana.
Perera who is also the CEO/President Global Manufacturing of US based DTRT Apparel where around 10% top management of 12,000 employees are Sri Lankans said that the Ghana investment climate is friendly specially towards foreigners who wants to bring in FDI’s and this is an area Sri Lanka business community should crash in. “Ghana is also the gateway to Western Africa.”
He said that currently several apparel, power generation companies along with biscuit manufactures like Munchee and construction/steel related business firms like Melwa, tea exporters, micro finance companies like LOLC, Lankan agri business companies are successfully doing business in Ghana. Total Sri Lankan expat population is nearly 500.
“One of the biggest emerging opportunists are in the health sector not only to open and maintain hospitals but also for carrying out medical laboratory facilities all over Ghana.”
There is a growing middle class sector. They usually fly to Singapore or the US for surgeries which are very costly and Sri Lankan private sector hospitals can attract a large portion of this market.
“in addition , the local health care sector can also offer special surgery and after care packages in Sri Lanka. Similarly Medical tourism too has big openings and for all these medical segments purpose awareness should be created.”
He also identified the insurance sector as an emerging area for Sri Lankan companies to look at. “Proving expertise in the construction sector too is an area with great potential.”
He said that the Ghana tea sector is also looking for high quality packaging and international distribution and these are two areas Lankan companies should look at.
Speaking about the education sector he said there is a huge vacuum for technical, and apparel sector training as many US companies are investing heavily on the garment sector in Ghana and they need staff. Most Ghanaians travel to the US, UK, and Europe. If the Sri Lankan travel sector can host a mega road show and create awareness Sri Lanka would be an ideal destination for them. Currently tourism awareness in Sri Lanka is almost zero.”
Like Sri Lanka, Ghana is also on an IMF economic bailout package. Ghana’s economy grew 3.8% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, bringing full-year growth to 2.9% in 2023, as the country recovers from its worst economic crisis in a generation due to spiraling public debt. Mining, gas, oil, cashew and cocoa are their main exports. (SS)
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