The Observer (Uganda) | Sunday, 11 October 2009
Written by SSEKIKA EDWARD
HOIMA - A Chinese Company plans to build a manufacturing plant to process animals feeds, canned food and make agricultural implements in Kigumba, in the Western district of Masindi.
Hebei Company will initially employ about 1,000 people once the plant is in place, the General Manager, Ligiun Qui, said. He was speaking during a meeting with the king of Bunyoro Kitara in his Karuziika palace.
Qui told King Solomon Iguru that the company will import agricultural machinery and equipment such as tractors from China for its operations.
Hebei Company will grow maize, rice and wheat on 1,000 acres of land. The company will also grow fruits and vegetables on over 300 acres for both export and the local market. Other activities will include poultry farming and sheep rearing. The company will make a short term investment in fast-growing commercial trees (6,400 acres) with an initial investment of about $10 million, Qui said.
He added that the company targets to supply the local, Chinese as well as European markets. He asked for a favourable tax regime and relaxed immigration rules to enable the company bring in about 200 experienced technical manpower from China to kick-start the project.
The company plans to grow its operations to about 100,000 acres [40,500 ha] of land in 8-10 years.
“Our enterprise has many years of experience in agricultural industrialisation and fund strength. We regard this as an opportunity to develop the national agriculture of Uganda and the relevant industries in a more cost effective manner,” Qui said.
