A delegation from Ghana will tour education and research facilities at Plymouth University as part of a three-day visit aimed at forging international trade links.
The visit is being hosted by the Devon Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Plymouth Ghana Link and the University’s Plymouth Business School.
And its focus will be on trade with West Africa, with around 20 Ghanaian businessmen and women visiting from Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce, offering South West businesses the opportunity to make direct links with the African country.
But it will also enable University students to network with businesses from the South West and Ghana, enabling them to access a range of potential opportunities and boosting their employment prospects.
Dr Rumbi Mukonoweshuro, Lecturer in Accounting at Plymouth University, said:
“Over many years, we have worked very closely with the Chamber of Commerce to create opportunities for our students. This visit will build on that, giving those involved a unique way to network with local and international business leaders. It will also provide them with experience of other cultures and the chance to learn about elements of international trade which could benefit their future careers.”
Professor Nikolaos Tzokas, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business at Plymouth University, added:
“This is an exciting visit and a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the variety of world-leading education, business and research activities taking place at the University, while supporting our local business community. It will also enable us to explore potential collaborations with organisations in Ghana, building on the existing mutually beneficial partnerships we enjoy throughout Africa and across the world.”
The delegation will be in Plymouth from January 12-14, 2016, during which time they will be given a tour of the University’s Marine Building, speaking to researchers and learning about the exciting projects taking place in the COAST Laboratory.
There will be a Plymouth International Trade Club meeting and dinner at the Robbins Conference Centre on January 13, an event being attended by business students and academics along with local business leaders.
And they will also tour the Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre, which was transformed in 2012, and has since become an invaluable resource for academics and students, as well as businesses from across the South West.
The delegation will also visit DDRC Healthcare, based at Plymouth Science Park, and the STEM and Engineering facility at City College Plymouth, one of the University’s partner colleges.
Cate Taynton, Head of Commercial Projects for Devon Chamber of Commerce said:
“The Chamber is delighted to be welcoming the Ghanaian delegation to Plymouth. Offering local businesses the opportunity to meet and make direct contact with international business contacts is extremely beneficial in forging international trade links. I’d like to thank Plymouth Ghana-Link and Plymouth University for their support in creating the programme of activities for our Ghanaian visitors and look forward to seeing positive outcomes for Chamber members as a result of this visit.”
Peter Reid, Chair of Plymouth Ghana Link said:
“This visit will open a new chapter in our relationship with our partner city in Ghana. Since 2003 we have fostered visits, exchanges and activities ranging from joint productions at the Theatre Royal, training Ghanaian groundsmen at Plymouth Argyle and hosting the Ghana Olympic team in 2012 – amongst others. Our two most notable activities are the regular visit of surgeons and theatre nurses as a part of Operation Hernia, and the well-established link between Plymouth High School and Ahantaman School in Takoradi.”
