The Ghana-Brazil Chamber of Commerce was last Wednesday launched in Accra to foster economic, cultural and social development between the two countries.
The Chamber also serves as a catalyst for trade, investment, and cultural exchange between Ghana and Brazil, empowering businesses to collaborate, innovate, and prosper.
In attendance were chiefs, business owners, Brazilian community in Ghana, staff of the Brazil Embassy in Ghana, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Mr Michael Baafi Okyere, and Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Constituency.
Launching it, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Bryan Acheampong, in a speech read for him by Yaw Frimpong Addo, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, said Brazil and Ghana share a history of cultural exchange and mutual respect.
He urged the two countries to create opportunities that would lead to economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.
Mr Acheampong said the Brazil-Ghana Chamber of Commerce would open doors for businesses in Ghana and Brazil to explore new markets, share knowledge and build lasting relationships.
The minister commended the two countries for building on an existing relationship anchored on trust, mutual respect and shared prosperity.
Charge d’affaires of the Embassy of Brazil in Ghana, Ms Luiza Horta Barbosa, said there was the need to strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Brazil to spur economic growth for the benefit of their citizens.
She urged the two countries to explore diverse areas, including technology, tourism and other areas yet to be tapped.
Ms Barbosa commended Edinam Adjei-Sika, the Founding President of Brazil-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, for her forthright, and said Brazil was proud of her accomplishments.
Mrs Adjei-Sika, for her part, said she envisions a future where Brazil and Ghana work hand-in-hand to build sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.
She recalled how her life was profoundly shaped by the bond between the two countries, when she received a scholarship to study in a top Brazilian university.
“As an eighteen-year-old Ghanaian with aspirations beyond our shores, I was fortunate to receive a government scholarship to study in Brazil. At a time when Europe and the United States were the preferred destinations for many, my journey to Rio de Janeiro marked a pivotal turning point.”
She said, “Brazil, with its vibrant culture, warm people, and dynamic economy, became my second home. The similarities, from the shared passion for football to certain culinary delights, were striking. These experiences forged lifelong connections that are the bedrock of this Chamber.”
BY MALIK SULLEMANA