600 get jobs as Mbale Industrial Park opens for business

A 619-acre Chinese developed Sino- Mbale Industrial Park has been officially opened for business.
As the wind blew through the Mbale based park, Mr Shawn Lee, deputy general manager Mbale industrial park while opening the park said six factories will start operations this year.
“At present, we have three factories which are about to go into production including lighting, bulbs, washing powder, wires and cables,” he said explaining that 600 people are currently employed.
Some of the businesses housed at the park include; Pearl Light technology Limited, Ubon technology and Victoria Cable limited, among others.

The park developed by Tian Tang Group, was last year commissioned by President Museveni to start construction, as part of the industrialization agenda, where a total of 22 industrial parks will be created.
It is expected to create opportunities for Chinese companies to invest in Uganda and create over 15,000 jobs for the community.
While three investors have currently set up in the park, Mr Lee says six more are expected before the end of the year and are expected to create employment opportunities to 2,000 people.
“Another six are coming they are under construction including the clothing factory, glass, building material, agro processing and so on,” he said.

The park, Mr Lee explained has a capacity of 60 factories which the Chinese developer said is yet to be attained, but efforts are being taken to attract more investors.
Mr Paul Zhang, chairman Sino- Uganda Mbale industrial Park said a professional team was deployed in different provinces of China to attract investors for the park.
Twenty acres out of the 619 acre park has been designated for a small and medium enterprise incubation base with a total investment cost of $80m.

The base will be jointly constructed by Ginland Development limited and Ronghui Steel Structure manufacturing limited.
At least 16 steel standard steel factories will be housed under the base and are envisioned to attract 20 investors and 5000 jobs.
Mr Micheal Werikhe, state minister for trade said the park creates a big milestone for the eastern Uganda and the country at large.

“These companies are going to work with us so that we train our young people, both men and women to ensure that we compliment their creation of jobs,” he explained.
Ms Esther Mirembe, a 21-year-old woman quit her job at a hotel where she was paid Shs2, 000 per day to work at Pearl Light Tech.
There, she says she is paid Shs7,000 per day, which is enabling her construct her one bedroom house.

“I love working here because they pay me a lot more money. They pay me Shs7,000 per day instead of working there where I get Shs2,000 per day. I am building my house and it is getting finished,” she said.
The official opening of the park comes after President Museveni’s visit to China’s province of Hunan with the intent to woo investors.
According to Premier Hu, china has already invested close to $3.4 billion in Uganda, with focus on industrial parks.
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