By Hou Akot Hou
Northern Bahr el Ghazal State officials on Wednesday assessed a plot of land in Alok Payam, Aweil Center County, to determine its suitability for allocation to Egyptian investors planning to establish a meat-processing and milk-production facility in the area.
Peter Natale Ukech, the newly appointed Commissioner of Aweil Center County, told this outlet on Thursday that the assessment was aimed at ensuring the Egyptian company could begin operations as soon as the necessary agreements and approvals are completed.
“We visited Alok Payam to identify the area where the company will operate. The chiefs, women, youth, and elders accepted the proposal and agreed that the land should be given,” he stated.
“As county commissioner, we welcome the project and urge the investors to start the work without hesitation because there are no difficulties in operating on the land,” he added.
Paramount Chief Santino Azubeir also said that the community welcomed the initiative.
“As paramount chief of the area, my people and I welcome the initiative,” he noted.
Among the officials who visited the proposed site was the Minister of Land and Utilities, Dominic Kang Deng. He said the assessment found no major obstacles to allocating the land to the Egyptian investors.
“As [the] government, we thank the people of Egypt for investing in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. We are a peaceful and diverse state, so I call on more investors to come and operate in a calm and stable environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jafer Riiny Riiny, the State Minister of Health who also serves as Acting Minister for Animal Resources, said the project would produce processed meat for local consumption, with surplus products potentially exported outside South Sudan.
“This project will begin producing meat, which will be consumed locally in the country, while the rest will be exported overseas,” he stated.
He said the project could also help address unemployment among young people in the area.
“On the other hand, the community has raised the issue of the high number of unemployed youths. The community has pledged to employ 300 individuals, and we see that as a benefit to our people,” he noted.
The community has reportedly agreed to allocate 450,000 square kilometers of land to the Egyptian company as preparations for construction of the facility begin.