Mention Ghana and Koreans usually think of an underdeveloped country in Africa or a popular chocolate bar named after the country.

However, to pioneers like Lim Do-jae, who now operates several companies in the western part of Africa, the land is full of opportunities.

“Ghana produces 240 thousands barrels of oil per day. Now is the time to penetrate the market,” says Lim, who is the president of Korean community there.

According to him, the infrastructure there is still primitive, as it started oil production only last year. This means there are more areas for investment.

“Ghana is no longer a country where AIDS prevails nor with on-going civil wars,” Lim said in an interview at 2011 World Korean Community Leaders Convention.

Lim left SK E&C 5 years after he was located to Ghana branch. After that, he established his own construction corporation, which recently won a $100 million project to build an oil storage facility.

Nominated as president of Ghana’s Korean society at 2008, he also strives to develop the Korean community there, building language schools and a Korean center, which is to be completed this October.

Lim is also planning on establishing a Korean chamber of commerce in order to provide essential information to potential entrepreneurs.

“Ghanaian people are kind and are considerate to foreigners, which provides good conditions for business,” Lim added.

By Kang Yoon-seung (koreacolin@gmail.com)