GOVT HAS RECOGNITION FOR PRIVATE SECTOR (Page 21)

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Asamankese

THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, has given the assurance that his outfit would give the necessary assistance to Pinora Limited, a foreign-owned fruits processing factory at Asamankese in the West Akyem District in the Eastern Region.
The factory, which started operations in October last year, currently produces 25 tons of orange juice/concentrates and five tons of similar products from pineapples daily.
It has a labour force of 297, most of who are from Asamankese and its surrounding areas.
Mr Affram Asiedu who was on a working visit to some parts of the West Akyem District stated that the government had recognised the private sector, including foreign investors, as the key partner of the country's development and would therefore continue with its investment-friendly policies to attract more companies, especially the foreign ones to operate in the country.
Mr Affram Asiedu mentioned tax rebates as some of the government’s initiatives, which he said, would make it possible for the private companies to operate and engage the unemployed youth to generate income for their maintenance and that of their families, thereby reducing poverty in the communities.
"The government believes in the private sector as the engine of growth and will therefore give it the necessary support to grow and engage the unemployed to generate income for their livelihood", Mr Affram Asiedu stated.
He asked management of the company to constantly be in touch with his outfit to see how best to resolve any problem that would hinder the smooth operations of the company.
The Managing Director of Pinora, Mr Tim Anderson, said the company's success depended on co-operation from farmers who produced the raw materials of oranges and pineapples and appealed to the District Chief Executive of West Akyem, Mr Sintim Aboagye, and the minister to help promote good relationship with the farmers.
He appealed to the minister to help secure land for the company's expansion.
Mr Anderson who also stated that the company was currently using a diesel plant and a large number of expatriate staff expressed the hope that the premises would be hooked to the national grid and more local people trained to take over from the expatriates, adding that it would go a long way to reduce the cost of production.
The Production Manager, Mr Francisco Guerra, who conducted the minister round the factory said the company had the capacity to increase output.
Mr Affram Asiedu later inspected work at the ¢2.7 billion steel bridge over the Ayensu River that linked Asibirem and Okotokrom, cocoa producing communities near Asamankese and also inaugurated a ¢823 million six-classroom block for the Ekoso Primary School, where he asked parents to take advantage of the government's educational initiatives such as the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme and send their children to school.
Mr Asiedu Affram also called on the Chief of Asamankese, Osabarima Kwaku Amoah, who assured him of his co-operation for the development of the area.