The 2025 edition of the Netherlands-Ghana Business and Tourism Expo has opened in The Hague, Netherlands, with a renewed call for deeper collaboration between the two nations in trade, investment, and sustainable development.
Themed “Partnership for Growth: Trade, Innovation and Sustainability”, the expo seeks to foster innovation, strengthen business connections, and promote long-term prosperity through bilateral cooperation.
It also serves as a platform to explore opportunities in agriculture, agribusiness, tourism, and digitalisation, while aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Ghana-Netherlands ties spanning centuries
Opening the event at The Hague University of Applied Sciences on Thursday, September 18, 2025, Ghana’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr. Francis Danti Kotia, highlighted the historic depth of relations between the two countries.
“Ghana’s relations with the Netherlands date back over 300 years, and the relationship continues to be defined by shared values and cooperation in all areas of our bilateral partnership,” he said.
According to the Ambassador, the expo is not just a commercial gathering but a reaffirmation of Ghana’s enduring friendship with the Netherlands.
“This Fair is a reaffirmation of our enduring bilateral partnership, and an opportunity to explore deeper collaboration in all sectors of common interest.
At the centre of this engagement lies a sector that remains fundamental to Ghana’s economy and national development vision: agriculture and agribusiness.”
Agriculture at the heart of transformation
Ambassador Kotia stressed the centrality of agriculture in Ghana’s development agenda, pointing to initiatives launched by President John Dramani Mahama to transform the sector.
He cited the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), which include the Feed Ghana Programme, Feed the Industry Programme, and Agriculture Investment and Infrastructure Development.
These programmes, he said, were designed to increase productivity, strengthen value chains, and attract investment into agro-processing.
“Through this renewed focus, Ghana is seeking not only to increase productivity but to build stronger value chains, attract investment into agro-processing, and introduce more sustainable and innovative farming practices,” he noted.
Mr. Kotia added that Ghana’s participation in the AfCFTA made the case for Dutch investment in agriculture even stronger, particularly in agro-processing, trade, and export-oriented ventures.
“This Fair offers a timely platform to build on existing ties and explore new frontiers for cooperation. As Ghana expands its role within the AfCFTA, the case for investment in Ghana, particularly in agriculture and agro-processing, grows stronger,” he remarked.
Call for Dutch investment and trade
Delivering the keynote address, Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. John Dumelo, assured Dutch investors of the government’s readiness to support partnerships in Ghana’s agricultural sector and trade.
He underscored the Mahama administration’s commitment to transforming food and agriculture over the next four years, with the dual aim of achieving food self-sufficiency and boosting exports to Europe, particularly the Netherlands.
“The government of Ghana is ready to welcome Dutch investors who are willing and prepared to invest in Ghana’s agricultural sector,” Mr. Dumelo said.
“Over the next four years, the John Mahama-led administration is committed to transforming the food and agriculture sector to make the country food sufficient, as well as increase its food exports, particularly to the Netherlands.”
Mr. Dumelo encouraged all the participants to engage with a single-minded purpose.
He also urged the participants to forge partnerships that extend beyond transactions, partnerships characterised by mutual benefit, long-term vision, and the kind of innovation that uplifts people and protects the environment.
A platform for trade and innovation
The Netherlands-Ghana Business and Tourism Expo 2025 is designed to strengthen networks between the government, private sector, academia, and civil society from both countries.
Its mission is to facilitate meaningful connections and explore innovative solutions for trade and investment that can promote sustainability and resilience in both economies.
The four-day event will feature panel discussions, exhibitions, and networking sessions focused on trade, technology, agribusiness, and tourism, as well as opportunities under AfCFTA.
With Ghana pushing for inclusive growth and the Netherlands’ reputation for innovation and agricultural excellence, the expo is expected to open new avenues for collaboration that could shape the future of bilateral trade and investment.
