Netherlands-based Louis Dreyfus Commodities promises to invest in Ghana
Louis Dreyfus Commodities, a global merchandiser of commodities and food processing, would invest in Ghana to ensure food sufficiency and create jobs.
“With more than 160 years of experience, our portfolio has grown to include oilseeds, grains, feed, rice, freight, finance, juice, cotton, coffee, sugar, metals, dairy and fertilizer,” Mrs Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, Chairman of the Group of Companies, said.
She spoke to journalists after leading a delegation to hold a closed-door meeting with President John Dramani Mahama at the Castle, Osu.
Other members of the delegation were Serge Schoen, Chief Executive Officer, Mehdi El Glaoui, Chairman, Ciro Echesortu, Chief Operating Officer, who represented their Company, while Mr; Nabil Moukarzel, Chairman of the Finatrade Group of Companies and John Awuni, Coporate Affairs Director of Finatrade also represented Finatrade.
The Company, which is headquartered in the Netherlands and would be partnering Finatrade Group of Companies in Ghana, has a strong regional presence in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and 12 Africa countries.
Mrs Louis-Dreyfus said the company had net sales of $60 billion and in Ghana they would be chiefly engaged in establishing a fertilizer plant, cocoa processing and sugar production and to achieve their long-term plan of making Ghana a major producer and net exporter of rice and other commodities.
She said her outfit currently processes and transports approximately 70 million tons of food around the world annually with over 38,000 employees at the peak season.
Mr Serge Schoen, CEO of Dreyfus Commodities, said they were impressed with the fast and virtuous development in Ghana and this would enhance their investment programmes in the coming years.
He said their main focus of investment would be on agriculture, food processing and logistics which would help propel the agricultural development of the country.
Mr Moukarzil, Chairman of the Finatrade Group of Companies, said his outfit had established leadership positions in commodities and branded food segments across its international market in the West African sub-Region and would be launching a rice mill in the Volta Region by the middle of the year.
He expressed the hope that the presence of Louis Dreyfus Company in Ghana would help accelerate job creation and contribute to the growth of the economy.
Source: GNA