By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
Jintao Sanitary-Ware Ghana Limited, a Chinese-owned sanitary-ware manufacturer, has inaugurated its state-of-the-art production plant in Takoradi.
Jintao, part of the China-based Hwani Group, specialises in the production and distribution of sanitary-ware, washbasins, bathroom cabinets, urinals, wall closets and accessories and has the capacity to produce one million pieces annually.
It is committed to a massive expansion plan that will increase production to about two million for export across the sub-region.
The 1-million production capacity factory will create 600 jobs in addition to adding real value to the economy
About 70 percent its products will expectedly be exported to other markets on the continent, while the remaining 30 percent is for the local market.
Government aims to address the growing housing deficit but reducing the cost of building materials remains a significant challenge due to heavy reliance on imports, which exacerbates inflation driven by imported goods.
In light of this, Jintao’s investment aims to provide affordable sanitary-ware to real estate agencies and home builders, helping to reduce construction costs and promote affordable housing while also acting as a measure for import substitution.
Job creation
With about 90 percent of its current 600 workforce being natives of the Western Region, the firm has demonstrated its commitment to supporting government’s industrialisation agenda.
Marketing Director-Jintao Sanitary Ware Company, Ophelia Zhang, emphasisied that Jintao is hoping to increase accessibility to affordable, high-quality sanitary-ware products in Ghana and its neighbouring countries at an affordable rate.
The Takoradi industrial area-based manufacturer, beyond creating much-needed jobs for its host communities, is also expected to lower the cost of sanitary-ware in Ghana by providing high-quality products at competitive prices.
“We are proud of contributing to Ghana’s economic growth and providing quality sanitary-ware products to the West African market. Our production will go a long way to reduce the cost of sanitary-ware in the country, offering unbeatable prices for these higher quality products and creating jobs for the people of Takoradi,” she said.
Parliamentary candidate for Essikado-Ketan on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket, Charles Bissue, representing government, commended the company for creating jobs in the region. He said the factory will play key role in government’s industrialisation efforts.
“The factory has created jobs here and tax officials will ensure they pay taxes to boost the economy. I think it’s a positive step by government to establish the free zones enclave in Takoradi. Previously, we had to import certain items; but now, as a free zone enclave, we are producing for export,” he said.
“This will increase our foreign exchange earnings and improve our trade balance in the future. These are the measures that help the nation,” he added.
Jintao Sanitary Ware Co. Ltd. has a footprint across the continent, with factories in Tanzania, Kenya, Angola, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Senegal, among others.
