Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen
Astek Company Limited, a fruit processing company located at Nsawam in the Eastern Region is to restart full operations in April 2020, following the approval of GH¢5,444,760 through the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s stimulus package programme for the refurbishment of the company.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who made this known in Parliament yesterday, said out of the amount, GH¢2,639,760 meant for capital expenditure had already been released, while the remaining GH¢2,805,000 which is also meant for working capital would be released in due course.
The Minister was answering a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who wanted to know the plans that the Ministry had to revive the company to help provide job opportunities for the people in the area.
The minister indicated that when the company starts full operation it would be able to provide 60 direct jobs and 200 indirect jobs for residents of Nsawam and Adoagyiri
He said the business promoter of the company who was leading the company’s revival, had ordered for 600 metric tonnes per annum pineapple processing equipment which would arrive in the country in January 2020, for installation.
“Mr Speaker, the promoter has also used part of the disbursed amount to refurbish the company’s premises at Nsawam but would require an additional amount GH¢500,000 to complete the refurbishment due to cost overrun,” he said
According to the minister, the ministry through its ‘One District, One Factory’ policy will provide all the necessary incentives and support to ensure the successful operation of the company, adding that the company has secured orders to export canned sliced and chunked pineapples to Spain, USA and Egypt, under the new brand name, Nano Foods.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr