As a way of ending capital flight in procuring paints and accessories in delivering its contracts in Nigeria, Berger Paints Plc, is set to start production at its new fully-automated plant in Abuja early next year.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Richard Adeninyi Adebayo, who dropped the hint in Abuja, said from his assessment, the new plant has adequate capacity for large volume production with added benefits of increasing local capacity, thereby reducing importation of finished products.
The minister added that the new plant will further strengthen the local market in Nigeria and the Naira as well as creating massive employment for the youths.
Earlier in his address during a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja, the Chairman, Berger Paints, Abi Ayida, said the plant is in the final stage of factory acceptance testing for its full automation, which the contractors will handover in a few week’s time.
He described the project as first of its kind in sub-Sahara Africa that clearly conforms to international standards.
Ayida added that “The Company is on top of a major revolution in the paint industry, as it commissions a fully-automated water-based paint factory. We are only calling for improved access to forex for raw materials, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the industry’s inputs.”
Responding, the Minister recalled that “One of my mandates here, following my appointment by President Mohammadu Buhari, is to support private sector industrial growth.
He told Berger Paints delegation that “We are proud of what your management is doing, and we are ready to support you. I am not unaware of some of the challenges facing the paint industry in Nigeria, but we are working round the clock to address them.”
