NAIROBI, May 26 (HANA)--The government is exploring alternative source of energy in a bid to assist industries to reduce the existing high cost of production, Vice President Moody Awori has said.
Awori observed that with the current expanded market within the COMESA and the East African Community there is need to lower production cost of manufacturing goods so as to compete effectively with other imported merchandise.
The Vice President was speaking in his Jogoo House Office Wednesday when he received officials from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Pan African Paper-mills who paid him a courtesy call.
Awori commended the Pan African Paper Mills for creating Jobs in the country through the establishment of the paper industry at Webuye.
He at the same time said the government recognizes the efforts being made by the paper mills towards re-afforestation programs in western Kenya.
The Vice President noted that such programs would conserve the water catchments areas as well as ensure sustainability of the paper industry. The IFC Chief Special Operations officer, Mr. Erick Cruikshank, said that the institution would continue working closely with the government as well as other industries such as the Pan-Paper Mills in order to generate more employment opportunities.
A Director, Pan-Paper mills, Harri P. Singhi, appealed to the government to consider lowering the electricity tariff, saying that the company has so far spent over Kshs. 8 billion on electricity bills in the last eight years.
Singhi said that the company was working closely with IFC to expand the paper mills and called on the government to assist in solving the problem of shortage of wood supply. ENDS
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