Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekkow Spio-Gabrah says government is committed to the growth of the manufacturing sector to enhance economic development.

He said in spite of the hitherto challenges in the power sector which affected industry, government was unwavering in providing an enable environment for businesses to flourish.

The sector minister was addressing the media after a familiarization visit to selected manufacturing companies in the industrial hub of Tema.

Interacting with management of Nestle Ghana Limited after taking a tour at the company’s plants,  Dr Spio-Gabrah said as part of efforts to enhance trade, the ministry had initiated work on sustainable policies directed towards enhancing the country’s trade and industry position, transform businesses and enterprises, create jobs and improve on livelihoods.

He called on the company to ensure that raw materials used in production were not excessively imported adding that the soon to be commissioned Komenda Sugar Factory will satisfy their sugar needs.

The minister commended manufacturing companies for adhering to safety, the use of modern machinery and overall adherence to high international operational standards.

Managing Director of Nestle Ghana Limited, Freda Duplan said the company which has been operating in the country for over five decades, directly employs more than 1,300 people in Ghana.

She indicated that the company has a daily production capacity of 250 tonnes and has been working with the Northern Rural Growth Programme under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and farmers to enhance quality and quantity of cereals that are produced to ensure strict quality requirements.

“We buy maize, rice and millet locally for the production of Cerelac infant cereal and have, since 2011, trained over 52,000 farmers on good agricultural practices”, she said.

Earlier, the minister visited the REX Styles Ghana Limited, producers of GTP, Woodin and VLISCO and the Alpha Industries Limited, producers of TopChoco.