GCB Bank PLC says it is strengthening its Afro‑Asia Banking Desk to deepen trade and investment flows between Ghana and China, as part of efforts to support businesses operating across the two markets.
Speaking at an interaction on the sidelines of the Bank’s activities marking the Chinese New Year, Aurelia Baaba Ofori Odame, Head of State‑Owned Enterprises and Afro‑Asia Banking at GCB Bank, said the Bank sees significant commercial opportunities in the fast‑expanding Ghana‑China economic corridor.
“For us at GCB, we see opportunities not just in the numbers but in the partnerships we can forge to support major sectors of the Ghanaian economy,” she said.
She noted that trade between the two countries continued to grow at a strong pace, presenting prospects for export‑driven Ghanaian enterprises and local industries that rely on access to machinery and raw materials.
Ms. Ofori Odame said GCB Bank had introduced a number of trade‑focused solutions to support local businesses.
These include an export development proposition designed to help Ghanaian producers take advantage of non‑tariff arrangements to access the Chinese market.
“We are preparing our clients to become export‑ready. We support them to navigate export protocols, certifications and related requirements to ensure that their goods are accepted on the Chinese market,” she said.
On imports, she explained that although GCB Bank prioritised export‑led growth, it also recognised the need for local manufacturers and light industries to secure essential inputs.
The Bank is therefore connecting Ghanaian importers with original equipment manufacturers, suppliers and producers in China, especially in the areas of industrial machinery and raw materials.
Ms. Ofori Odame added that GCB Bank was also working with partners to facilitate seamless payment flows across the Ghana‑China corridor, including cross‑border interbank payment systems tailored to the Chinese market.
She said these initiatives were part of a broader effort to prepare Ghanaian exporters, importers and investors to take advantage of a Chinese market base estimated at 1.4 billion people.
Ms Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, Chief Marketing, Communication and Customer Experience Officer of GCB Bank PLC, said the Bank’s celebration of the Chinese New Year formed part of efforts to strengthen relations and show respect for cultural diversity.
She said GCB Bank valued its heritage and recognises China’s growing role as one of Ghana’s major economic partners. The commemoration, she explained, aligns with GCB’s role in connecting local enterprise to global opportunity through its Afro‑Asia Desk.
“This celebration reinforces the fact that GCB is truly Ghana’s favourite bank – a bank for business, for communities and for the general public. We are the bank for life,” she said.
GCB Bank PLC continues to implement programmes aimed at positioning Ghanaian businesses to benefit from emerging opportunities within the Ghana‑China economic partnership.
Source: businesspostonline
