Ghana is positioning itself as a key player in global trade following major inroads at the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit held in Washington D.C., where the country joined over 2,500 international investors and business leaders to explore new commercial opportunities in the United States.

Led by the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), a high-level Ghanaian delegation participated in the four-day event with a focus on forging sustainable trade links with the State of New Mexico — one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the U.S.

TAGG's General Secretary, Emmanuel Nana Opoku Acheampong, who led the Ghanaian delegation, said the summit was more than a networking opportunity.

"This is not about taking pictures. It’s real," he stated. “We’re signing deals, registering with state partners in the U.S., and mapping how STUP ensures economic facilitation on both ends.”

The summit saw Ghanaian exporters across agribusiness, logistics, and light manufacturing begin onboarding into NMEXUS — a new trade gateway based in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

This initiative, supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce and private consulting firm STUP, aims to streamline the entry of foreign companies into the U.S. market.

Speaking at the summit, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham emphasised the state’s strong commitment to international partnerships, highlighting Ghana as a key priority.

“This is not charity,” she said. “This is a smart partnership.

Ghana has the ambition. We have the tools. Together, we can build something durable.”

The partnership forms part of New Mexico’s ambitious strategy to transform from one of the poorest states in America to a new frontier for international business.

Just two years ago, New Mexico ranked last in childhood poverty; today, it boasts the second-fastest GDP growth in the U.S.

Much of the state's rapid economic shift is credited to STUP, a Chicago-based global consulting firm headed by Amar Vakil, which has been instrumental in building soft-landing zones and go-to-market plans for foreign firms, including those from Ghana.

STUP’s efforts led to the creation of NMEXUS, a designated zone for foreign businesses now attracting growing interest from across Africa and Asia.

“Ghana is not just entering the U.S. market — it’s building within it,” said Mr. Vakil. “We work with firms that want to scale, not just sell.”

The state of New Mexico, known for its massive natural gas and renewable energy resources, has become increasingly attractive to next-gen industries.

Officials say they are backing this growth with incentives for workforce development, innovation in clean energy, and infrastructure support.

Melinda Allen, CEO of the New Mexico Partnership, noted: “We don’t want to just host them, not just help land them — we build with them.”

For Ghana, the summit marks a significant shift in global trade engagement, with tangible actions replacing talk.

The Ghanaian delegation is expected to return with a clear roadmap to help local exporters tap into the vast U.S. market under a model designed for long-term sustainability and scale.

“This is Ghana’s moment,” Acheampong declared. “With NMEXUS, we’re not just gaining access. We’re creating a new standard for how Africa partners with the world.