Kumasi, May 16, GNA - Mr Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, has said that government was committed to revive the defunct Jute Factory at Atonsu in Kumasi to create employment opportunities for the youth.

He noted that the factory, which became defunct in 1991, would be resuscitated to boost the production of sacks to support the cocoa industry. The Minister said his Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning was working around the clock to secure the necessary tools and equipment to be used by factory.

Mr Ayariga announced this when he inspected the old factory in Kumasi on Friday as part of his working visit to the Ashanti region. He said government had planned to support farmers to grow more kenaf, the raw materials used in the production of jute sacks, to feed the factory. He gave the assurance that government would support local industries, especially small and medium enterprises with credit facilities, training programmes and the necessary resources to enable them to adopt best practices to expand their businesses.

The Minister later toured the ADM Cocoa Processing Factory, Suame Megazine Industrial Organization (SMIDO) and the offices of the Ghana National Association of Garages in Kumasi where he addressed the staff. During the visit he affirmed government's resolve to give the private sector the necessary support for accelerated socio-economic development.