Punjab Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today acceded to a proposal by a delegation from Ghana led by Deputy Minister for energy and petroleum Benjamin Dagadu to settle progressive farmers in Ghana and assured that a high level delegation from Punjab would visit the African country soon to lay the groundwork for this settlement scheme.The visiting minister from Ghana, who called on the Deputy CM last night at his residence, said Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama wanted to promote agriculture as a tool of progress and that Ghana would welcome Punjabi expertise in this regard. He said the government of Ghana was also ready to allocate fertile agriculture land on long lease to Punjabi farmers.Following this proposal, Mr Badal said the State government would send a delegation of officers as well as an expert from PAU Ludhiana to study the process whereby land could be leased out to Punjabi farmers as well as the suitability of the entire project. He said following this the State government could facilitate farmers to settle down in Ghana in 20,000 to 25,000 acres initially.
The Ghanaian minister, who visited a number of business places in Ludhaina and Jalandhar during his three day tour, said his country would shortly appoint a business counsellor at Ludhiana to initiate a meaningful business relationship with Punjab. He said Punjab could export finished goods to Ghana and that Punjabi entrepreneurs were also welcome to start manufacturing facilities in Ghana to take advantage of its natural resources including various minerals, oil, cocoa, palm oil, timber, fish and cotton. He said Punjab could also assist Ghana in becoming an agro based economy.
Dagadu, who visited the Bonn Foods facility in Ludhiana as well as the Brewmaster Brewery in Ludhiana and Jalandhar, said the biscuit industry in Punjab could be exempted from all custom duties at the point of entry in Ghana. He also offered Brewmaster to open up their business in Ghana.Leading Sikh businessman from Ghana – Mr Amardeep Singh Rahi, who accompanied the Ghanaian delegation on their visit to Punjab, said Ghana would welcome help from Punjab to establish educational institutions in Ghana, including engineering colleges. Mr Rahi said Punjabi entrepreneurs were welcome to establish mini hydel dams. He said Punjab could also help the power sector in Ghana by exporting power transformers to the country.
Captains of industry and senior officials were also were also present at the interaction. These included Mr Rajinder Gupta of Trident group, Mr Inderjeet Singh Chaddha of Brewmaster and Mr Kamal Oswal, Industrial Adviser to the Chief Minister and leading lawyer on international affairs Harpreet Sandhu who coordinated the visit on behalf of the visiting Ghanaian delegation.
Mr Harpreet Sandhu briefed the Deputy CM that the delegation from Ghana had visited various business premises including Bonn Foods, Nahar Group, Hampton Court business park and Brewmaster and Field Fresh Foods – all in Ludhiana. The team also visited Mrs Bector’s Foods Private limited in Phillaur, and SEL textile unit at Nawansheher.Mr Sandhu said the delegation would submit its report and its recommendations to the Ghana government’s cabinet for further deliberations in order to facilitate an official treaty between Ghana and Punjab.