By Bampia James Bundu
An indigenous businessman, Alie Suma, has revealed that he has invested some US$4 million in the construction of a timber processing factory in the country.
Suma, who is the owner and executive director of Timber Harvester Processors and Exporters Sierra Leone Limited, made the revelation at the turning of the sod ceremony at the factory’s Waterloo site.
He explained that he was investing in the country to complement the work of the president and to help create more job opportunities for youth. He said that the factory would be processing four types of wooden materials, ranging from cello tex, ply wood, mosquito coil, wood and coal.
“I have succeeded in employing about 950 workers to work in the factory. I also have succeeded in transforming the lives of about 150 commercial sex workers by employing them as factory workers in one that is already functional”, he said.
Suma said to raise the initial capital he had to involve some of his business partners in China, whose support was tremendously helpful to bring in materials for the construction already going in the country.
Suma commends the president for lifting the ban on timber exportation in the country, adding that his timbers would have languished in the forest had it not been for the president’s reconsideration on the issue.
He further said that his company was presently engaged in planting more trees in order to ensure that they kept what they cut, adding “our slogan is cut one plant fifty”.
He assured that he would continue to work within the laws of the land, as according to him, officials in the ministry of lands, agriculture, the Chief of Staff in the president’s office and other agencies hadcertified him.
Chairman timber association, Alan Barrie, said that the factory would add more value to timber and encouraged Sierra Leoneans to henceforth buy locally manufactured mosquito coils and ply wood at lesser prices.
He observed that timber products were used in all forms of construction. This, according to him, was why timber management must be properly done by planting more trees.
The headman at Waterloo, Mohamed Kabba, expressed delight at the construction of a factory in his community and said that many youth in Waterloo were already benefitting from the company. He also assured that his community would serve as a watchdog to protect the facilities of the company, as “this is our own company”.
Presidential youth aid, Bai Mamoud Bangura, pledged the government’s support in ensuring that the local content policy would be fully respected and adhered to.
“I am personally grateful to see that most of the workers are Sierra Leonean youth”, he said, and described the role of the private sector in the country’s development as very important.
Bangura pointed out that Suma’s efforts were complementary to the president and his ‘Agenda For Prosperity’, but pleaded with employees to take the job seriously and focus on the task ahead.
(C) Politico 24/04/14
