Ghana and Zambia have agreed to explore trade opportunities by examining each country’s import lists to identify products they can supply to each other.
The move is aimed at boosting intra-African trade and reducing reliance on imports from outside the continent.
Ghana has a very long import list, and it will be useful to see what products on that list can be imported from Zambia and other African countries.
President John Dramani Mahama said this at the Ghana-Zambia Business Dialogue on Friday in Lusaka, Zambia.
President Mahama said it will be interesting to see Zambia’s import list to identify what products Ghana has a comparative advantage to export into the Zambian market.
He explained that this approach would help both countries leverage their comparative advantages and strengthen bilateral economic relations beyond political dialogue.
President Mahama noted that during his discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema, they realized the similarities in the trajectories their two countries are following, but also realized they have different comparative advantages.
He stated that Zambia has a comparative advantage in agriculture and is quite far ahead of Ghana when it comes to agriculture, especially with seed production.
President Mahama disclosed that President Hichilema gave him one ton of maize seeds as a gift.
He said, this year, he will not buy maize seeds for his farm and will distribute some to farmers around him, telling them it’s a gift from the President of Zambia.
President Mahama emphasized that the state visit has not been the usual ceremonial champagne drinking and food eating, but includes a business forum that allows the private sector to hold discussions, network, and have roundtables.
He added that he and President Hichilema agreed to go beyond the normal Permanent Joint Commission discussions and enhance relations between Ghana and Zambia to the level of an enhanced economic development partnership.
“I think that really anchors the relationship that our two countries share,” President Mahama said.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
