Luc Strybol, Vice President for the Americas and Africa at Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), has expressed optimism about Ghana’s business climate and announced that Flanders will organise a Ghana-focused investment conference in Antwerp, Belgium in early 2026, followed by a trade mission to Ghana later that year to connect Belgian investors with local partners.
He made the disclosure when a delegation from FIT, the official trade and investment promotion agency of the Government of Flanders, Kingdom of Belgium, paid a courtesy call on Ghana’s Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to explore new areas of collaboration and investment between Flanders and Ghana.
Led by Strybol and accompanied by Florence E.N.A. Acolatse, Trade Advisor at FIT’s Accra office, the delegation met with Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi.
Strybol said the visit was part of the Flanders government’s ongoing effort to strengthen economic cooperation with Ghana and identify new business and investment opportunities.
He praised Ghana’s economic and political stability, saying, “Political stability, the rule of law, and Ghana’s vibrant private sector make this country an ideal destination for long-term investment.”
He further noted that Flanders, the northern and economically vibrant region of Belgium, was eager to deepen partnerships with Ghana in key growth sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, textiles, and infrastructure.
“We are eager to see how we can move from mere import and export to real business partnerships and investments,” he added. “Our plan is to bring a trade delegation to Ghana soon and explore areas where Belgian and Ghanaian companies can work together.”
Sampson Ahi commended Belgium for its longstanding bilateral relations with Ghana, highlighting that trade between the two countries currently stands at about US$16 million, driven by Ghanaian exports of cocoa and gold and imports of refined and industrial products from Belgium.
He briefed the delegation on the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, which seeks to accelerate industrialisation, boost exports, and create jobs through enhanced production and value addition.
“We are working to ensure that our industries operate at full capacity by facilitating access to raw materials and supporting certification and standardisation to meet export requirements,” Ahi said. “We invite investors to partner with us to grow sectors that can drive job creation and industrial growth.”
The Deputy Minister assured the Belgian delegation of government’s full support and favourable investment incentives, including tax exemptions on imported machinery, tax holidays for new companies, and access to credible local partners through the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPC) and Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA).
“Our legal system safeguards every investor’s interest. We have a peaceful democracy, a strong judiciary, and a stable economy that provide a safe environment for business growth,” he said.
Discussions also covered potential collaboration in energy and water infrastructure, railway rehabilitation, and automotive assembly, with both sides agreeing to maintain continuous engagement to advance trade and investment relations between Ghana and Belgium.
