By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
To create job opportunities and to boost the country’s economy, Arise Integrated Industrial Platform (Arise IIP) on Friday 20th October 2023, commenced rapid construction work for the first phase of the company’s facility at its site at Koya Chiefdom in Port Loko district.
It was the first media tour, which attracted the attention of the Paramount Chief, Section Chiefs and stakeholders in the Port Loko district.
In his keynote address, the local partner, Arise IIP, Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr, disclosed to journalists that the first phase of the company will create Thirty-Four Thousand (34,000) jobs for Sierra Leoneans, adding that Arise IIP occupied Thousand Eight Hundred (1, 800) hectares of land area.
According to the Local Partner, thousands of people who have already been employed comprise young men and women, adding that Arise IIP will also support farmers across the country.
“We are going to build a 500 mega-ton rice Mill here in Sierra Leone”, he affirmed.
He continued that the company will give seed rice and fertilizers to farmers, adding that those farmers in return will sell their local produce to Arise IIP.
He furthered that this is the main reason why they want the railway, adding that the commercial train will be very busy transporting local products to the zone for manufacturing purposes.
He reiterated that there is ongoing robust construction work at the site, which started on 1st September, this year, adding that they plan to complete the first phase of the project within 24 months.
He went on to say that they will be working with an international company to provide 200 megawatts of electricity supply for the industrial zone and communities.
In his welcome address, the Paramount Chief, Port Loko district, PC Kompa Bomboli third (3rd), thanked all for gracing the ceremony, adding that lots of development have taken place since the project was commissioned by President Julius Maada Bio.
He further expressed gratitude to the Arise IIP Local Partner, Anthony Navo Jr and the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, for bringing such a lasting development to his Chiefdom.
According to the Paramount Chief, he was unable to provide jobs for his people, adding that with the timely intervention of Arise IIP, he believes many unemployed youths will gain employment.
He continued by assuring the management of Arise IIP that the leadership of the Port Loko district will give one hundred per cent support and monitor the project to see its success.
On his part, the Construction Manager, Santosh Goham, said that Arise IIP and the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) have developed international standards specific for the economic zone, adding that Arise IIP believes that investing in Sierra Leone would bring sustainable economic development for the country and their operational communities.
“We have already started the construction of boundary walls”, he disclosed.
According to the Manager, the boundary wall is approximately six (6) kilometres, adding that in the first phase of the project, they are going to develop international standards infrastructure, water and electricity supply system, storage and logistics and ICT, in collaboration with Port Authority.
He disclosed that the first phase will comprise of rice Mill, pharmaceuticals, paints, tiles and recycling factories.
