Trade between Ghana and Ireland is expected to experience a further boost following the visit of a 41-member Irish Trade Mission into the country.

This forms part of strategies by Ireland to make itself a key supplier of high end services in the field of education, finance, engineering, construction and technology. It is also keen on supplying quality food including dairy and meat products.

“This Trade Mission provides a key foundation on which to build strong economic links in Ghana. The region has a strong demand for imports”, Minister of Agriculture, Food & Marine Simon Coveney told Joy Business.

Ireland is targeting to reach export sales of 600 million Euros in West Africa by 2018. Ireland’s merchandise trade with Ghana alone as at 2014 was worth 38.7 million Euros.

The Irish Trade Mission has been in the country for a week developing key relationships with potential clients and to build a strong profile for Ireland especially in the agric sector.

The Irish Minister also met with officials of the World Food Programme in Ghana and visited a number of aid projects which receive approximately 8 million Euros from Ireland’s Department of Food, Agriculture and Marine as part of its overseas development effort.