Over 150 delegates attended the first Ghana- Ireland Trade and Investment Forum in Dublin on Wednesday. The event, sponsored and organised by Tullow Oil plc and the Ghanaian Embassy, brought together Irish and Ghanaian business leaders to discuss opportunities for trade between the two countries. Representatives from 22 Ghanaian companies took part in the delegation visiting Ireland. Touted as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with double digit economic growth forecast for 2012, Ghana recently joined the league of oil producing nations as Tullow Oil’s Jubilee field came on stream. While the country is set to enjoy the benefits of its oil resources, the Government is keen to diversify investment beyond the oil and gas industry. Foreign Direct Investment has grown by over 70% in the last year and building international trade relationships is a key priority for the country. Ireland has a small but developing trade relationship with Ghana. The country’s exports to Ghana are estimated to have been $64m in 2010. This figure was up nearly 20% on 2009 and is continuing to grow. Ghana in the same year exported about $16m of goods to Ireland. Opening the event, Vice President for External Affairs and CSR of Tullow Oil plc, Rosalind Kainyah, said “Tullow has developed business relationships in Ghana since the 1980’s, long before we discovered oil there in 2007. “We know from experience that Ghana is an excellent country in which to do business. The opportunities for Irish businesses in Ghana and indeed in Africa are vast. Ghanaian businesses are ready to partner with Irish companies and we believe this event can be an important catalyst for both countries.” Minister of State for Trade and Development, Jan O’Sullivan, stressed the importance of the event in his speech to the Conference. “There is a genuine opportunity today to help people and businesses, both Ghanaian and Irish. I hope that today will provide the chance for a successful process of match making between companies to begin, to the mutual benefit of both countries.