The multi-million United States Dollars investment portfolio, Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) has last Friday 20 October 2023 reassured Sierra Leoneans of the provision of over thirty-four thousand jobs along with dozens of factories for sustainable development and rapid economic growth.

This disclosure was made by ARISE IIP, local partner Ambassador Anthony Navo Junior, during a media tour of ongoing construction works at the company’s one thousand eight hundred hectares of land at the Sierra Leone Industrial Zone (SIZ) Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko district Northwest of Sierra Leone.

In his message of assurance of hope, Amb Navo described ARISE IIP investment portfolio as the inspiration of hope for Sierra Leone. He said the project demonstrates government’s relentless commitments towards job creation; opening up the country to direct foreign investments, and sustainable development for rapid economic growth in Sierra Leone.

“ARISE IIP investment portfolio is aimed at stimulating local productions, reduce dependencies on importations of foreign goods and create factories, including pharmaceutical facilities, rice mills, tile production, paint manufacturing section and a power plants to provide electricity to the Industrial Zone and the community,” disclosed Amb Navo Jr.

The local partner added that the ultimate goal of ARISE IIP’s timely investment intervention is import substitutions wherein goods are locally produced and made available for sales and for the attractions of domestic as well as foreign markets.

He said ARISE IIP will also support farmers across the country. “We are going to build 500 mega ton rice mill here”, Navo vowed and continued that ARISE IIP will providing rice seedlings and fertilizers to farmers, and informed that thousands of Sierra Leoneans have already gained employments at the company.

Host Paramount Chief Bai Compa Bomboli III extended his profound gratitude to government rolling out the transformative development, lauded the efforts of Amb. Navo Jr. for pushing the initiatives of the company.

PC Bomboli among other things spoke of the huge impressive impacts of ARISE IIP investment portfolio in the areas of employment opportunities and in the reduction of crime rates in the community.

He said; “We want to thank the government and ARISE IIP for this initiative. I welcome this project as it would provide jobs for my people, especially for the youth. The project will reduce crime rates and unemployment. I thank President Bio for the opportunity presented to our country’’.

The Environmental Social Governance Manager ARISE IIP Sierra Leone, Shruthi James spoke of the company’s dedication to international environmental and social standards, including ongoing initiatives such as mangrove conservation in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency.

She informed that the completion of ARISE IIP’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment-ESIA and efforts to conduct an additional ESIA in accordance with International Finance Cooperation standards, which are in sync with Government’s support also aimed at meeting international standards in environmental and social aspects.

Santosh Goham, the Construction Manager, ARISE IIP, showcased the company’s investment potentials in creating a robust and sustainable economy for Sierra Leone and its local communities. He led the delegation on a tour of a boundary wall covering 150 acres, a significant milestone in the project that will feature international-standard infrastructure, including roads, water and electricity supply systems, storage and warehouse facilities, and a logistic Inland Container Depot in collaboration with the Freetown Port Authority.

It could be recalled that President Julius Maada Bio, in April 2023, laid the foundation for the ground-breaking Special Koya Industrial Zone (SIZ-Koya) in Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District.