The IPR´s central message was that encouraging existing investors to expand and reinvest in Ghana´s economy should be the main pillar of foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy in the immediate future. Ghana´s strengths in terms of attracting FDI lie mainly in natural resources. Yet there was also potential to encourage wider investment in non-traditional sectors such as resource-based agro-processed and agricultural products, and in light manufacturing for local and regional markets. Attracting investment in these areas would require concentrated efforts that include:
Improving the investment framework with modifications to the investment code, taxation, and land, labour and competition policies.
Strengthening the regulatory framework and institutions dealing with infrastructure development and privatization.
Launching a booster programme to revive the activities of established investors, both foreign and domestic.
Strengthening the Gateway strategy and linking it to attracting FDI.
Building clusters by promoting linkages with small and medium-size enterprises.
Since the IPR was published, UNCTAD has assisted the Government in the following ways. It:
advised on amending the foreign investment law;
reviewed and provided the Government with comments and advice on its new model bilateral investment treaty (BIT);
set up an investment information portal that includes information related to the investment environment and business opportunities (i-Track);
produced a Blue Book on Best Practice in Investment Promotion and Facilitation;
asssisted the investment promotion agency in establishing one stop shops to facilitate investors (with funding from ProInvest);
held a workshop on best practices in investment promotion and facilitation;
carried out an investment promotion training programme for diplomats;
assisted in establishing a partnership between the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the China-Africa Business Council, which led to the "Ghana-China B2B event: Invest in Ghana";
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