Members of the Council of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) have agreed to work in concert with newly-appointed Minister of Trade and Industry, Haruna Iddrisu, to resolve the myriad challenges facing industry - including the vexed issue of dumping on the Ghanaian market. The Minister had extended a hand of cooperation to the AGI Council at a meeting last Thursday, promising to hold quarterly meetings with them in order that government, at all times, will be adequately informed as to what the immediate concerns of the industry are. “As Minister for Trade and Industry, my first assurance will be to work with you in identifying and resolving the constraints to doing business in Ghana - apart from, generally, the commitment by government to ease and create the atmosphere for businesses to thrive,” he said. In what came across as a genial interaction, Mr. Iddrisu noted that he is considering an immediate review of the Export Development and Agriculture Investment Fund (EDAIF) to make it more responsive to the needs of industry. “I am looking forward to a new paradigm wherein EDAIF should respond more to the needs of the private sector,” he said, asking the AGI to support him with a “concept paper as to what you want to see the future of EDAIF look like.” The AGI, he said, should from time to time present to Government a list of its members to be supported through the fund. In return, he asked that the association bears with an adjustment of the export tariff from 1.5 percent to 2 or 2.5 percent so that 0.5 or 1 percent will be dedicated to supporting industry. The Minister admitted that in the past some business people suffered because they were deemed hostile to the party in government, and assured that it will not happen under his watch. “Our first commitment will be to eliminate the inherent suspicion that has existed between the public and private sectors...the inherent suspicion will naturally have to be eliminated... Other than that, I cannot see how Government will succeed in its employment drive,” he said. The president of AGI, Nana Owusu Afari, assured the Minister of a cordial working relationship. “We can assure you that we are here to support you, and you should support us to resolve the challenges faced by industry...It is my hope that our meeting today will lay the foundation for more structured, regular interactions,” he said. Several captains of industry attended the meeting, including Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo of Kama Group of Companies; Dr. Yaw Adu Gyamfi of Danadams Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Mr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi of Tropical Cables and Conductor Ltd; Mr. Kofi Kludjeson of Akasanoma Industries limited; and Mr. Kwasi Okoh of Aluworks.