By Fadda Bakish

President Julius Maada Bio was on Tuesday 15^th November 2022 highly impressed with the major strides made by local companies such as Pee Cee and Sons, and Jolaks Manufacturing Company, who are contributing significantly to the economic development of Sierra Leone.President Bio registered his profound impression about the giant strides being made by both companies during a conducted tour of exhibited local products of Pee Cee and Sons and Jolak companies at the National Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Fair (NYEEF), at the Bintumani International Conference Centre, Aberdeen in the West of Freetown.

He therefore commended the Chief Executive Officer and Proprietor of the two companies, Mahesh Nandwani for taking the lead in private sector development and for championing the implementation of Sierra Leone’s Local Content Policy.

The Government of Sierra Leone on the aforementioned date, through the Office of the Vice President, hosted over 500 promising young Sierra Leoneans, between the ages; 18-35 years, from across the country the country’s first National Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Fair (NYEEF).

Speaking on behalf of manufacturing, food processing, productions and distribution sector, the Chief Executive Officer and Proprietor, Pee Cee and Sons and Jolak thanked President Bio Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone for availing his companies and others the opportunity to form part of such an important programme.

Mr Nandwani described the sector as an important job creation entity and that they were pleased to be part of the event that brought together young people who are seeking employment opportunities.

“This National Youth Employment and Entrepreneur Fair allows us to direct them and more importantly explain to them the various competent and skills that we need to boost the manufacturing and agricultural business sector,” he said and added that with over forty years’ experience in the food production sector holds the key in job creation in the country.

The food production and supply chain, he said, creates numerous opportunities for young people, from low schemes, processing and marketing, adding that the potentials are enormous.

“Since 2018, many industries have been established in the sector, including Jolaks Manufacturing Company Limited, which consists of palm refinery and a sophisticated manufacturing plant, which after fulfilling local demands, we are now exporting vegetable cooking oil and soap to Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Guinea,” the CEO said and furthered that these developments have led to establishment of new partnerships with successful companies in West African Countries like Sunuku Group in Guinea that graced the event at the Bintumani Conference Hall.

“We are also welcoming them to Sierra Leone as partners to create employment opportunities and skills transfer for young people,” he said and went on to thank the government for the enormous strides taken to make the sector competitive, such as the expansion of energy access, which has enabled them to reduce overall cost. “Such kinds of support will continue to serve at the center of expanding production and create more jobs. The government can count on us and we want to appeal that the event becomes an annual event and continue to engage with the government on job creation,” the Pee Cee and Sons Boss said.