By Fadda Bakish
President Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday 21st June 2023 visited Jolaks company in Wellington as an appreciation for the company’s support of one of his manifesto promises, which is to create employment opportunities for Sierra Leoneans and make them happy in their workplaces. The president and his entourage were received by the Chief Executive Officer of Jolaks, Mahesh Nandwani, management and staff of the company who welcomed him in a jubilant mood.
Jolaks Manufacturing Company Limited is Sierra Leone’s biggest palm oil refinery & soap producer. It produces the flagship Padi Cooking Oil and a variety of soaps.
Sierra Leone’s Trade Minister, Edward Hinga Sandi praised the company for helping President Bio to succeed in the past five years, noting that it has employed a good number of people and has done a lot for the country and communities.
“President Bio always wants people to have quality jobs, which Jolaks has provided to its employees,” he said and thanked the company and its leadership for serving as an example of a successful company that is contributing directly to national development.
The owner and Chief Executive Officer of Jolaks, Mahesh Nandwani, recalled meeting with the president when he assumed office to seek his approval and blessing to establish a company that will produce cooking oil and soap for national consumption and export.
“Since that day I have been receiving the support of his government, which has made Jolaks a top producer of Padi Cooking oil,” he said and added that his company has enjoyed a fruitful investment environment in the trade sector that has led to the opening of so many marketing opportunities.
“Our dream has always been to stop cooking oil importation. We are making good use of the President’s blessing to produce quality cooking oil, soap, and other products that we exported to other countries,” Mr. Nandwani remarked and assured that their production would be doubled and tripled in the coming years. “We should contribute to effect positive development in the country. We have also established a cube factory and a farm in Lungi cultivating onions. Very soon Sierra Leone will stop importing onions,” he assured.
President Bio in his brief statement re-echoed that one of his manifesto promises is to put smiles on the faces of Sierra Leonean, and this he has seen in Jolaks Company. “I can see happiness and a direct relationship at Jolaks,” he said and furthered that this is what the government is supposed to do. He praised Mahesh Nandwani for making his dream come true.
“Little by little we are reducing the number of goods imported. It is helping the government make money, and families are benefiting a lot,” Bio said and commended the company’s move to make Sierra Leone become a net exporter of cooking oil to West African nations. “Very soon Jolaks will make Sierra Leone start exporting onions,” he said. The President challenged the company to invest in rice to help stop its importation.
“I am happy to see cohesion and togetherness. I want more people to emulate the good examples of Mahesh. We should unite to promote development” he and ended by thanking the management and staff for helping him deliver his manifesto promises and assured him of his government’s support at all times.
