While on his 2023 Victory Campaign Tour in Margibi County, His Excellency President George M. Weah on Thursday, August 31, 2023 dedicated the Jeety Rubber Processing Factory, a landmark initiative being undertaken by former Indian Honorary Consul General, Upjit Singh Sachdeva, alias Jeety, in Weala, Cinta Township.
The factory came about as a result of the National Legislature passing an Investment Incentive Agreement between the Republic of Liberia and Jeety Rubber LLC on December 21, 2021—a 15-year agreement that enables the company to construct, develop and operate a national rubber procession and production plant for the production of tyres, condoms, hand globes, rain boots, rubber bands and other natural rubber products.
The rubber factory, which is the first major processing plant in Liberia, is expected to process 5,000 tons of rubber per year and bring significant benefits to the economy.
At the dedication ceremony, President Weah was flanked by the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Jewel Howard-Taylor; Minister of Commerce and Industry; Mawine Diggs; other officials of government, as well as partisans and supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
President Weah expressed delight at the level of work done at the factory, with the hope that the factory will buttress government’s effort in providing economic relief and creating job opportunities for Liberians.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Jeety Rubber LLC, Upjit Singh Sachdeva (Jeety), used the occasion to tour President Weah and his entourage around the facility and explained the services the factory hopes to provide upon completion.
Speaking to newsmen, Jeety said the turning on of the corporation’s equipment by President Weah marks the commencement of the first phase of the company’s operations. He disclosed that the machines can consume between 200 to 250 tons of unprocessed rubber on a daily basis.
According to him, the company will continue to purchase rubber from all local farmers as part of efforts to empower them and help improve the country’s economy.
He expressed appreciation to the all sectors of the Liberian government for helping him get the factory set up and running. He mainly thanked President Weah, Vice President Taylor, the ministries of Commerce, Agriculture, Finance and Development Planning, Justice, and Labor. He also thanked the Director General of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Robert Budy, for the support from the beginning to the end of his project, and Commissioner General of the Liberian Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General, Thomas Doe-Nah, for his unwavering support.
Jeety disclosed that the company will ensure that the government generates US$40—US$50 million annually when it commences the exportation of processed rubber during the first phase of its operations.
It can be recalled that the former United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy, described the Jeety Rubber Factory investment as an ambitious project. He said when Jeety first told him about the investment, he told him it was ambitious, but seeing the factory becoming a reality just shows what can be done if government creates an enabling environment for investment.