Government to collaborate with stakeholders to revamp textile industry - MP

Samuel-Okudzeto-Ablakwa suit

Juapong (V/R), GNA - Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region has said that government will collaborate with other stakeholders to institute a national policy that would revamp the textile industry.

Mr Ablakwa said government was committed to rescucitating the textile industry by injecting capital with the collaboration of the private sector to ensure full capacity production of the Volta Star Textiles Limited (VSTL) at Juapong.

He said this on Monday at a working tour of companies in the Constituency to familiarize and interact with management on their operations as well as their challenges and the way forward for the company.

The Minister accompanied by Alhaji Bubey Dzinadu, the Municipal Chief Executive of North and Central Tongu and opinion leaders, visited VSTL, Milk Processing Factory, VEGPRO Farm Ghana Limited, Erdmac Company Limited, a construction firm in charge of irrigation systems in Kpong and the Prairie Volta Limited of the  Aveyime Rice Project and the Aveyime Cattle Ranch.

He toured the companies and was enlightened on their operations and challenges, and gave the assurance that government was committed to ensuring that those companies were well attended to in restructuring their operations to meet international standards.

Mr Ablakwa noted that the tour was a fact-finding mission to acquaint himself with the full state of establishments in the Constituency and find ways of addressing their problems for national development.

He said President Mahama was passionate about job creation, adding that with the huge potential of the constituency, his outfit will engineer national discussions on investing capital in the growth of those companies to enhance job creation among the youth and attract foreign investors into the Region.

Mr Evans Agyagbo, Acting Technical Director of VSTL recalled that Juapong Textiles Limited was closed down in 2005 due to financial constraints, adding that government in 2007 revamped the company to resume operation.

Mr Agyagbo said with the help of the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) the company had injected Gh¢ 300 million into its operations which was used to procure raw material for the production of greybaft, pay salaries owed workers and currently had 25 per cent plant capacity production, with the hope of attaining 75 per cent capacity, and appealed for government assistance.

GNA