Ghana's new commodity exchange – labelled the future West African hub – has received encouraging investment backing after Eleni, Africa's commodity exchange premier promoter, formed a private-public consortium to finance the establishment of the bourse.
The consortium comprises a group of top tier financial institutions in Ghana including Data Bank Agrifund Managers, Ecobank Ghana, UT Bank Ghana, IFC, 8 Miles Fund and Eleni. The Ghanaian government controls minority stakes in the exchange.
Commodity
exchanges – a platform for the trading of raw material, mostly
agricultural produce – are usually an alternative investment channel to
the stock market. It is considered a less risky market as physical goods
are less susceptible to speculations, which is a major factor in
driving value of stocks.
The West African nation has been keen on
developing its agriculture industry, by providing a sustainable
secondary sector. The newly established bourse serves as an opportunity
to establish a cost effective and profit yielding marketplace.
"as part of efforts to create an orderly, transparent and efficient marketing system for Ghana's
key agricultural commodities to promote agricultural investment and
enhance productivity, the Government has committed itself to the
establishment of a Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) and associated Warehouse Receipt System(WRS)," said Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama.
"This
move is to encourage market access and fair returns for smallholder
farmers and to facilitate the formalization of informal agricultural
trading activities. It is expected that the establishment of the Ghana Commodity Exchange will position it as a West Africa Regional Hub for commodity trading activities."
Commodity bourse is a common feature of agricultural driven economies such as Ghana and Nigeria with agric products such as cocoa, oil palm, cassava available in large commodities.
The Abuja Securities
and Commodities Exchange was established in 1989 largely for the
purpose. It was designed to provide a cushion for investors who battle
with price fluctuation in the equity market.
Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commodities
(SEC) Director General, Aruma Oteh disclosed plans to privatize the
bourse, stating that a mid-year sale is its primary target. Heirs Holdings, a Nigerian-based investment firm has shown interest in acquiring the exchange.
Source: Ventures Africa
info@ventures-africa.com (Ventures Africa)
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