Cost of utilities hampering growth of local industries

Tafi-Abuife (V/R), Feb. 5, GNA - Kingdom Premium Fruits, a Free Zone company, producing Mango Pine Smoothies, could be taken out of production by the spiraling cost of utilities.

Samuel Lefoney, General Manager of the company, said this when Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Trade and Industries, visited their facilities as part of his three -day Volta regional tour

He said overheads of electricity, water and fuel take about 70 per cent of production costs, making the company's competitiveness a huge challenge.

Kingdom Fruits, which farms on between 700 and 1,000 acres, has a pineapple population of 800,000, which is projected to rise to 2,000,000 this year.

The company also grows mangoes which it blends with pineapple to get its brand of smoothies said to being doing well on the market.

Mr Lefoneh said the company is developing markets in the sub-region and in China and the product is carving a niche for itself.

Dr Spio-Garbrah said his Ministry appreciates the toll the hike of the utilities was having on production and competitiveness of Ghanaian industries and urged industry players to make a representation on the issue to government through the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

The Minister also visited the Edwin Wood Processing, a plywood milling company at Jasikan, which employs 300 staff including 30 women, where he urged individuals and public institutions to patronize furniture made in Ghana.

Dr Spio-Garbrah was also at Della Foundation, located at Hohoe, which produces clothing for export to the United States.

GNA