Major boost for govt 1D1F initiative - Bosch Packaging in to support SMEs

The government’s quest to transform the industrial sector of the economy through its One-District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative is to receive a major boost with the coming on board of Bosch Packaging Technology, the world’s leading suppliers of process and packaging technology, to help businesses to fully leverage the opportunity.

The German company, noted for its quality products, is set to deliver tailor-made technical solutions in all facets of business to companies, particularly small, medium enterprises (SMEs) that will take advantage of the new government initiative to accelerate the growth of the ailing manufacturing sector.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the company’s Sales Director for West Africa, Mr Francis Omoniyi, said the company was prepared to lease its plants of various capacities and different solutions to interested companies based on their business models without demanding collateral and added that “this is to allow flexibility.”

He said “the initiative of the government is laudable and we are here to offer the needed support to ensure its fullest success by helping businesses with what they require to make an impact.”

According to him, the company is open to listen to all SMEs and other companies that require its services to be able to structure solutions to fit their business in a unique way.

Mr Omoniyi stated that “we want to help the businesses to be able to package their products well to meet international standards so they can export to earn foreign exchange. We want to help businesses with solutions that can help them to preserve food to have a longer shelf life and we want to help businesses to add value to their products before they export so that they can earn all that is deserving of them.”

Special workforce

He said the company had assembled specially trained workforce made up of Africans to be on standby to deal with any emergencies that would arise as a result of the use of its technology when in use.

“We do not want a situation where we have to fly experts from Europe to Ghana to fix problems. We have the team here to do so promptly to avoid any delays in the production process.”

Packaging

He said the company also relied heavily on a highly-qualified workforce to develop and produce complete solutions for the pharmaceuticals, food, and confectionery industries.

In being specific, he stressed that the company produced packaging for its clients to ensure that their “products meet international standards and can also have a longer shelf life.”

Mr Omoniyi said for the 1D1F to be successful, companies under the initiative should be able to deliver products that could easily sell in the country and also be attractive to the export market.

He indicated that Bosch “has what it takes to help businesses in that direction and value addition is key to making businesses derive the maximum benefit from products which hitherto would have been exported in their raw state.”

Mr Omoniyi said the government’s initiative must deliver value and be the game changer under the transformational agenda driven by a strong manufacturing sector.

“Having decided to come in, we know what we have to offer and we will deliver that without let-up or hindrance by delivering the solutions that businesses require. No business is too big or small to support but we have a special focus on SMEs. Once businesses discuss their needs with us, we are ever ready to assist to make them achieve their aim to the fullest,” he said.

Asked about the cost involved, he said the “company will not compromise on the quality of its products and services; however, we expect those who want to do business with us to come around and we will give them value.”

Basing his argument on the company’s key mantra “Invented for life,” Mr Omoniyi said the products of the company “last a lifetime and, therefore, that makes it cheaper than competition because once acquired, it last longer and runs efficiently throughout.”