promised Nigerians improved standard of living
by 2013 in his bid to deliver democracy
dividends.
Jonathan made the promise at the inauguration of the
SAB-Millers Brewery, in Onitsha, Anambra State,
according to News Agency of Nigeria.
He noted that in spite of the challenges facing the
country, the private sector was still making massive
progress, noting that the Federal Government would
continue to support the private sector Operators and
provide infrastructure to assist them.
"I want to commend this company for what it has
done; I also want to commend others for what they
are doing considering that fact that within this period
as a nation, we know we have our challenges.
"But this administration is totally committed to
changing things; we have challenges in terms of road
infrastructure, power; we have that also in security
and others.
"I know all these are major handicaps to the
development of industry in the nation; but even under
these situations the companies are trying and doing
well.
"We promise you that we would change things and
make sure that the private sector blossoms in this
country because that is the only way we can create
jobs.
"Our transformation agenda is going on, in a
partnership between government and the private
sector; that's' why even in our economic management
team we have people from the Federal Government;
state governors are there, Governors Peter Obi and
Murtala Nyako and of course key captains of industry
from the private sector."
Jonathan also noted that Nigeria's population of 160
million people, 70 per cent of which was made up of
the youth, made it an attractive investment
destination for investors.
He praised Governor Obi for deploying his private
sector experience to attract investment to the state.
"I promise SABMiller breweries investors that they
would not regret their investment in the country as
young people under the age of 35 constitute 70
percent of the country's population and we are not
under any restrictions to what they could eat or
consume."
Governor Obi, in his address promised that the people
of the state would support and stand with Jonathan
having overwhelmingly voted for him in the 2011
Presidential elections.
The governor said with the level of private sector
investments springing up, the state was fast
becoming the home of Africa's greatest
entrepreneurs.
Mr Mark Bowman, Managing Director of SAB-Miller
Africa, expressed gratitude to the Anambra and
Federal governments for creating the enabling
environment for the brewery to thrive in the country.
"We are grateful for the support and infrastructure
you have assisted us with and we promise that the
company would deliver on its promises of job
creation."
It will be recalled that SAB-Miller Breweries had
invested $100 million (N15 billion) on building a
green-field brewery in Onitsha in 2011.
The brewery is the highest direct investment by any
group or company in the history of the South-East
geo-political zone.
The factory, which is expected to produce beer and
malt for a start, has 12.5 per cent share owned by
indigenous entrepreneurs and 10 per cent share
owned by Anambra Government.
The brewery is expected to directly employ about 750
youths and indirectly engage 4,500 people, especially
through its subsidiary distribution company Interfact
Nigeria Ltd.
The brewery would be taking advantage of the largest
market in West Africa - Onitsha Main Market - as well
as 1.5 million residents excluding thousands of
visiting traders daily.
Meanwhile, Anambra State Government had
announced that it would provide tax cuts and
infrastructure to the brewery and other industries
within the Onitsha industrial harbour.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
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