Aburansa(C/R), Nov. 22, GNA - The Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative, Papa Owusu Ankomah on Saturday inaugurated a plastic recycling factory building at Aburansa in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem municipality. The total cost of the factory known as the "Cyclus Elmina Plastic Recycling Limited" which is expected to start its test operations in March next year, is estimated at 1.5 million Euros and will provide job for about 3,000 people.

The establishment of the factory made possible through a sister-city relationship of Gouda in the Netherlands and the KEEA Municipal Assembly, was initiated by the Central Regional Minister Nana Ato Arthur, the then district chief executive of KEEA and the mayor of Gouda Municipality, Mayor Wim Cornelis.

It received massive financial support from the Dutch Government and will recycle plastic waste and water sachets to produce plastic chips as raw material for industries in the country and for export, and also make pavement blocks, affordable roofing sheets, containers and cotton. Papa Owusu Ankomah noted that the citing of the plant in the Aburansa community was another milestone in the quest of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s administration, to ensure broad based and balanced development of the country.

He said even though industrialization and population explosion have brought in their wake huge piles of waste, modern technology now abounds to help convert those waste into useful products, adding that with proper management of waste, it should no longer be allowed to degrade the environment.

Papa Owusu Ankomah expressed delight that the plant will not only generate employment for people in the area and beyond but will also promote cleaner environmental sanitation. He said his ministry in consultation with stakeholders, was currently formulating an industrial policy framework to ensure competence, productivity and international competitiveness to provide significantly enhanced role for government and the public sector in supporting and facilitating industrial development.

Papa Owusu Ankomah expressed appreciation to the two sister cities for the achievement, and also to the Dutch government for its assistance. Mr Michiel Bierkens, Head of Missions at the Dutch Embassy said the project was significant because it will help preserve the environment for posterity and also reduce poverty. The Municipal Chief Executive for KEEA, Mr Frank George Asmah thanked the Mayor of Gouda and the Dutch government for their immense support towards the development of the municipality. He said the Assembly was acquiring land banks for future investments to facilitate the industrialization of the municipality, which will soon become an industrial zone.

For his part, Nana Arthur paid tribute to those who assisted him towards achieving the goals of the municipality and urged Ghanaians to strive to promote peace at all times to help the country's economy to thrive.

Present at the function were the President of Cyclus Netherlands, Mr Hans Beltman, Mr Bless Darkey, Executive Director of Cyclus Elmina and Nana Kodwo Kru II, Omanhen of Komenda traditional area.