Paskal Rois urges Ghana to leverage opportunities from Indonesia to develop

The Indonesian Honorary Consul to Ghana, Paskal Rois, has urged Ghana's government and business community to explore opportunities in Indonesia. He emphasized the potential for development through partnerships.

Rois shared this message during a courtesy visit from Togbe Okpekpewuokpe Dagadu VIII and his delegation. He noted that Indonesian investors are eager to collaborate with Ghanaian nationals in various sectors.

In agribusiness, he mentioned a company interested in palm oil production. They seek about 35,000 hectares of land for a plantation, refinery, school, and clinic. Additionally, there is a proposal for a cassava processing plant in the Volta Region if 20 acres of land can be secured soon.

Rois also announced an upcoming Indonesian Aid Program. This program will support qualified individuals and entities with funds for agribusiness ventures like aquaculture.

In the energy sector, Rois highlighted plans to harness solar energy. He stated they aim to establish a solar energy center to boost the national grid's capacity.

He praised Indonesia's rapidly developing manufacturing sector. The country produces many goods, including MediSoft soap and Indomie noodles. Rois encouraged Ghanaian businessmen to become sole distributors of these products in Ghana.

He pointed out Indonesia's growing pharmaceutical industry as another area for partnership. Ghanaians are invited to collaborate on promoting this sector locally.

Regarding education, Rois mentioned fully funded scholarships available from the Indonesian government. These scholarships cover undergraduate to PhD programs for students from developing countries like Ghana.

He urged Ghanaians to apply for these scholarships since they include tuition and living expenses. Students may also find job opportunities after graduation or apply for remote jobs in Indonesia.

Rois encouraged Togbe Dagadu to unite local businesspeople into an association. He proposed an exploratory visit to Indonesia focused on establishing trade partnerships and cultural exchange.

He expressed readiness to facilitate this visit once the association is formed but advised that farmland may need to be sacrificed for investors.

Additionally, he invited the Ghanaian community to participate in a Trade Expo event in Indonesia scheduled for May 2025. This event will provide networking opportunities and promote goods from Ghana.

Rois committed to coordinating visits to other East Asian countries like Malaysia for socioeconomic growth partnerships.

Togbe Dagadu responded positively, expressing excitement about the opportunities presented. He pledged to position his area strategically to benefit from these prospects.

He suggested forming a partnership with a similar traditional area in Indonesia for cultural exchange. Furthermore, he requested support for developing education and health sectors locally.

Dagadu promised his team would create a roadmap to leverage these opportunities effectively. "We will stay in touch," he concluded enthusiastically.