Veep assures manufactures of gov’t support

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has assured local manufacturing firms of government’s continuous support in their bid to expand production.

He said government would continue providing a conducive environment for manufacturing and trade as well as other economic activities to thrive.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur gave the assurance at the inauguration of an expanded Production Line of Nestle Ghana Limited in Tema.

The fresh facility is a four new Production Line for the manufacturing of milk powder for both the local and export market.

Besides, Nestle Ghana limited over the past three years, has invested Swiss francs 38million in expanding facilities at the company and the new Production Line is the last of the development project.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur assured the company that government would help to facilitate the purchase of domestic cocoa for their operations.

He said Nestle has made critical investments in the Ghanaian economy and provide thousands of jobs for the people including distributers and retailers of their products.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur also stated that government has committed substantial resources towards the cocoa industry with the view to boost cocoa production and the quality of cocoa beans for both domestic and international markets.

He expressed the need for the country to maintain the long term efficiency of its farms so that Ghana’s cocoa products would continue to be superior on the world market.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said government earlier this month increase the producer price of cocoa above 63 per cent, consistent with its policy to enhance the incomes of farmers.

He said it is the expectation of government that the increase in the producer price of cocoa would encourage more young people to enter the cocoa industry so that productivity would increase.

Mr Kweku Rickett Hagan, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry commended the management and staff of the company for the new expansion facility.

He said over the past decade, Nestle has become one of the fastest growing businesses in Ghana.

He said the company’s products, ranging from Chocolate, Dairy, Cosmetics, Eye Care and Perfume are not only consumed in Ghana but exported to the rest of the West African sub-region.

Mr Hagan said government considers Nestlé’s operations and the private sector very important to the economic development of the country.

He said government continues to create the enabling environment, in the form stable macro-economic conditions, simple and flexible regulations as well as good transaction environment, to facilitate the company’s sustainable growth.

Mr Mataaz El Hout, Managing Director of Nestle Ghana Limited stated that the company still remains a leading name in the manufacturing of dairy and beverage products in Ghana.

He said the inauguration of the new expanded facilities forms part of the company’s plan to produce a new range of products for the domestic market and export.