The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Nana Owusu Mari, has said the association will reciprocate the efforts of the government to sustain the survival of the private sector in the country's economic environment. He explained that the efforts of the government to reduce inflation thereby encouraging the banking sector to lower their interest rates, as well as President Atta Mills' invitation to the business sector to accompany him on his state visit to Switzerland, had been appreciated by the association. Mr Afari made these remarks when businessmen drawn mainly from the private sector interacted with President Mills on the wings of a business forum held with their Swiss counterparts. According to the AGI President, the visit to Switzerland had been an eye opener to the business community, since they bad been able to come into contact with the captains of Swiss Industry and explored areas of co-operation with them. He said the private sector in Ghana was very grateful to President Mills for inviting a section of the business community in Ghana comprising the agricultural, financial and manufacturing sectors to accompany him on his official visit to Switzerland. The AGI president said although Ghanaian businessmen had dealt with Swiss businessmen for sometime, the visit had offered them ample opportunity of examining the real dynamics in the business world. He said the private sector in Ghana was ever prepared to partner President Mills in his bid to actualise goals under the "Better Ghana Agenda" to shore up the economy and improve the quality of life of the people. Mr Afari pointed out that the AGl was ready to do real business with their Swiss counterparts who would be visiting Ghana this month to explore the various investment opportunities in the private sectors of the economy. The AGl President said the association had been working closely with the Ghana. Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) to enable it to access investment opportunities from abroad. In his remarks, President Mills said the government was aware of the challenges the private sector faced and was doing its best to address them to enable them to operate efficiently. He mentioned some of the challenges the private sector faced as tariff on utilities, competition from imported products and high lending rates. President Mills said the government recognised the immense role of the private sector to the economic development of the country, stressing that "we would do everything possible to support the yeoman role of the private sector to help the government realise its "Better Ghana Agenda". President Mills called on the private sector in Ghana not to hesitate to draw the government's attention to its shortcomings especially the management of the economy, as it considered the sector as, a veritable partner in the country's reconstruction efforts. Source: Daily Graphic