BY SIMON KALLA & IKOME CHRISTIE
“I’m taking this opportunity to announce on South West soil that from today, the Ministry of Mines has adopted a policy of one municipality one industry for the whole country” Fuh Calistus.
The Minister of Mines, industry and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry made this remark on Thursday, October 24, 2024 during a working visit to Tiko Subdivision.
According to Minister Fuh Calistus there will be municipality and regions with more industries but the aim is for every municipality to have an industry so as to create more jobs for the youths.
“The Cameroon government is strongly committed to reviving industrial activity in the South-West region, and concrete measures have been taken to achieve this” Fuh Calistus said.
At the newly created soft drinks production company Pristine Sasu in Tiko Municipality, Minister Fuh Calistus appreciated the initiative of the management of the company for bringing the project to Tiko.“
“This is ample proof of the interest you have in the future of Cameroonian industry in general, and in the development of the structuring pillar of agro-industry in particular”, he added.
He said the Pristine Sasu project is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Mines and Industry. “I would like to pay tribute to the top management of Pristine Sasu, for having placed their trust in Cameroon as a choice destination for the implementation of their project, and for having successfully carried it out, thereby meeting the national demand for high quality dairy products and beverages in a dynamic, high-growth market” he said.
He added that the project, which is currently being set up in the Tiko subdivision, is fully in line with this national policy of import substitution and valorization of raw materials.
“As part of this drive to boost industrial activity, MINMIDT is ready to support the region’s leading agro-industries, notably PAMOL and CDC, in strengthening their capacities. In addition, a working visit is planned for the production of tyres through the local processing of rubber trees, which also contributes to strengthening our import-substitution strategy”, Fuh Calistus said.
He is optimistic that the company will play a major role in boosting economic activities in the town of Tiko and its surroundings in particular and the country in general.
Minister Fuh Calistus appealed to investors and other private promoters to follow in the footsteps of Pristine Sasu and seize the various opportunities available in the economic sector.
In his welcome address, the Mayor of Tiko Council, HRH Chief Ikome Peter Mesoso appreciated the promoter of Pristine Sasu Company for establishing in Tiko municipality which will create more jobs for the youths. He opined that the business will be successful as the city is stable for economic activities.
On his part, the CEO of Pristine Sasu Company, Abdurahman Ahmed Mohamed said the project is a realisation of FCFA 32 billion for the production and bottling of mineral water, carbonated drinks and dairy drinks, with an annual production capacity of 500,000 hectoliters of drinks.
The project will equally contribute to the local socio-economic development of the South West Region through the development of its natural and agro-pastoral resources, and the creation of 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry’s four-day working visit to Littoral and South West Regions ended at golf club Tiko where he met members of the chamber of commerce for a working session.