Coca Cola Country spent about $8,000 in the Sierra Leone
Israel T. Okujagu country Manager of Sierra Leone Bottling Company Limited has told Members of Parliament (MP’s) especially the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Trade and Industry that amongst several things his company is said to have spent about $ 8,000 in the country. (Photo: Country Manager Israel T. Okujagu of Sierra Leone Coca-Cola Company Limited)
Country Manager Israel Okujagu said this wards during a Parliamentary summoned on Monday 6thJune 2016 at the New Administrative Building OAU Drive Tower Hill, in Freetown.
He explain that when they are bringing goods through manufacturing from ECOWAS countries were by chamber of commerce satisfy those goods had to pay duty free or otherwise pay the Good and Service (GST) of which they are benefiting from that.
He told Parliamentarians the other aspect that has to do with capital investment by setting up a new factory or establishment of which he said government had deeply encouraged business people through duty free to start up investment.
Country Manager further noted that some of the investment citing the for that past three years total investment they have put in the country he said to be more than Eight Million ($ 8,000) Dollars including new building facilities, treatment plant, wishing equipment, generator, water treatment plant and amongst several others in order to upgrade their plant.
He also added that they are currently embarking on a project called 5/20 that being launched by Coca cola Bottling Company Limited in 2010 for Africa, Asher and other Africa contents that seeks to empower Five Million women by the year 2020, of about Four Hundred (400) women nationwide.
He said they decided to empower them in an agricultural value chine through their business partners as well as their retailers to ensure they help women to grow as according to his analysis he said women are considered to be most of the bread winner in most family as they keeps the family strong.
He added that they are so very personate about women items of development with support in providing them with equipment to stand for themselves noting that each year they provide One Thousand (1,000) Unit to provide them with a table, umbrella and coalman as by this way will helps the favor of women to grow into higher level as they are also been reviewing plans regarding the formal official launched.
He disclosed that the selection of the women came through from data base from the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs line ministry, the UN Women, as well as data from the Ebola survivors, widows, and amongst others.
He also expressed his dissatisfaction describing the country as a free commercial for business as he said they have no challenge but noted the high influence of other manufacturing company of a drink called WAW that is imported into the country that is not adding any good dividend items of employment while for Coca-Cola is extremely doing well items of employment rate as at now been employed a total of 250 workers in the country contributing to the growth of the country.
He maintain that his company had been effect to enhance and promote increment of livelihood benefits in the community adding that they had also been demonstrated solidarity in respect to the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country as well as the September flooding of 2015 in the city as according to him fully aware about the local content policy and undertake supports towards the cooperate social responsibility adding that his company is a local community development company that seeks to improve and empowering women as well as community.
In her opening statement Chairperson Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay of Constituency 085 in Moyamba District inform her audience that they decided to summoned to the Sierra Leone Coca-Cola Bottling Company Limited to better understand about the company main activities as well as plans and achievement as well as challenges they may be faces; n their operations.
She noted that the summoned is part of their oversight functions as their ongoing mandates with effort to reaffirming and implementing Parliamentary duties including monitor, supervise, all MDA’s as well other business institutions and trading companies that guards towards complimenting government efforts in the business industry.
She retreated by requesting from the company’s manager to further provide with the Committee development of long and short plan with evaluation reports of progress.
Hon. Kai Samba of Constituency 010 in Kenema District Subsequently noted the significant purpose of the meeting as symbolic and timely that have applauded government efforts noting that the employment rate they had created in the country was a loadable venture especially items of empowering the women struggling for sustainable development in the community.
Hon. Sheku Sannoh of constituency 112 in the Western Urban who also taken the discussion challenge after the Chairperson had described lapses from the Manager failing to involved the Member of Parliament Hon. Amadu Fofanah representing in that community that seeks to improve the livelihood of women through agro business and amongst others were also been contributing towards the significant purpose of the meeting.
By: Mohamed Y. Turay
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