Manufacturers cry out
Feb 16, 2010
LOCAL manufacturers have pleaded with President Yoweri Museveni to consider promoting locally made products to boost the growth of the industrial sector.
By David Ssempijja
LOCAL manufacturers have pleaded with President Yoweri Museveni to consider promoting locally made products to boost the growth of the industrial sector.
Ramesh Babu, the Abacus Parenteral Drugs managing director, told the President over the weekend that the manufacturing sector needed protection against competition from
imported products.
“Mr. President, I urge you to give preference in buying the locally manufactured goods over imported ones especially by National Medical Stores and other district hospitals,†he pleaded.
Babu explained that running pharmaceutical industries was one of the most intricate ventures since it involved strict quality control measures, employment of highly qualified technical people and huge investments.
He said encouraging the growth of the local manufacturing sector would save the country the heavy import bill as well as create employment opportunities.
Museveni, who commissioned the $20m (about sh39b) Abacus intra-venous drugs processing plant at Kapeke in Mukono district, promised that the Government would build more dams to increase the supply of enough, cheap and reliable electricity in order to reduce the cost of production.
“The construction of Bujagali dam is on course and the building of the Karuma dam would commence soon. Be assured of reduced costs of production which will eventually push the drug costs down to the benefit of our health care industry,†the President said.
Museveni promised to direct the health ministry to buy the factory’s products instead of importing medicines.
“Prosperity of local manufacturing investments is to the benefit of our country. Buying their products will be one of the most important ways of ensuring their sustainability,†he said.
The President urged the investors to venture into producing other products like foods to realise full trade benefits provided under the East African Community, the Common Market for East and central Africa and the zero-tariff markets from China, Japan, the US and India.
He urged the employees to exhibit good work ethics and warned against agitating for a salary increase when the factory was still in its infancy. The firm employs over 500 people.
LOCAL manufacturers have pleaded with President Yoweri Museveni to consider promoting locally made products to boost the growth of the industrial sector.
Ramesh Babu, the Abacus Parenteral Drugs managing director, told the President over the weekend that the manufacturing sector needed protection against competition from
imported products.
“Mr. President, I urge you to give preference in buying the locally manufactured goods over imported ones especially by National Medical Stores and other district hospitals,†he pleaded.
Babu explained that running pharmaceutical industries was one of the most intricate ventures since it involved strict quality control measures, employment of highly qualified technical people and huge investments.
He said encouraging the growth of the local manufacturing sector would save the country the heavy import bill as well as create employment opportunities.
Museveni, who commissioned the $20m (about sh39b) Abacus intra-venous drugs processing plant at Kapeke in Mukono district, promised that the Government would build more dams to increase the supply of enough, cheap and reliable electricity in order to reduce the cost of production.
“The construction of Bujagali dam is on course and the building of the Karuma dam would commence soon. Be assured of reduced costs of production which will eventually push the drug costs down to the benefit of our health care industry,†the President said.
Museveni promised to direct the health ministry to buy the factory’s products instead of importing medicines.
“Prosperity of local manufacturing investments is to the benefit of our country. Buying their products will be one of the most important ways of ensuring their sustainability,†he said.
The President urged the investors to venture into producing other products like foods to realise full trade benefits provided under the East African Community, the Common Market for East and central Africa and the zero-tariff markets from China, Japan, the US and India.
He urged the employees to exhibit good work ethics and warned against agitating for a salary increase when the factory was still in its infancy. The firm employs over 500 people.