Remarks For The Ghana Supply Chain Development Program (SCD) Signing Ceremony On January 22, 2013

The Honorable Minister of Trade and Industry Iddrisu;

The President of the Association of Ghana Industries Mr. J. Asare-Adjei;

The Pyxera Global Country Director Ms. Barbara Gblogah-Quaye;

Senior Ministry of Trade and Industry Officials;
Members of the Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is real pleasure to join the Honorable Minister and the Pyxera Country Director this afternoon to witness the signing of this important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Ghana Supply Chain Development Program (SCD) funded by USAID.

As the Minister knows, my government and I shared our views with the Government of Ghana as it developed the local content regulations for the petroleum sector. At times we disagreed – even publicly – on some of the specifics within the regulations, but we have always agreed that increasing local content in the petroleum sector and throughout the economy is critical to Ghana's long-term economic success.

Today's MoU signing is a visible demonstration of my government's commitment to ensuring that Ghanaian businesses have the expertise and support needed to bid for and, most importantly, win procurements in the oil and gas sector in Ghana. There can be no clearer example of our strongly-held view that local content is a worthy goal and can be mutually beneficial when there is a cooperative process of consultation and shared understanding. I am planning to visit Takoradi in March, and I hope to see the Supply Chain Development Program (SCD) in action and to also visit the Jubilee Partner's Enterprise Development Center to see firsthand how we

collaborate to strengthen those local businesses interested in working with the petroleum sector.

Thank you Honorable Minister, for hosting this important event this afternoon. I hope that your government and those small and medium-sized businesses looking for opportunities in the petroleum sector understand that my government and those American companies investing in Ghana are fully supportive of the Supply Chain Development Program. Our collaboration here today is a reflection of our commitment to continue to look for ways we can partner with Ghana to further its local content objectives. Here's to the beginning of yet another important dimension of the Ghana-U.S. partnership. Congratulations.