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Minister restates Tinubu's commitment to industrialisation

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, has restated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu-led government to industrialization in the country.

She spoke when she paid a courtesy visit to Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd (NBC), in Lagos, adding that the government will also ensure that the enabling environment is in place for businesses to flourish.

She said: “We are most delighted to be at NBC today and recognize its rich history in Nigeria which spans over 70 years. Our visit today is in line with Mr President’s commitment to promote industrialization in the country.

"We are committed to ensuring we create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and grow. We are passionate about reducing poverty and ensuring that we support economic growth with the appropriate fiscal policies.”

The minister who was received by the Managing Director, Goran Sladic, Non-Executive Director, Laolu Akinkugbe, and other members of the leadership team of NBC was led on a tour of NBC’s 110,000 m² facility, which is currently recognised as the largest bottling plant in Africa.

Highlighting the importance of the real sector to the sustainable development of the economy, the minister engaged the NBC team on pertinent issues shaping the landscape of manufacturing in the country.

Uzoka-Anite further reiterated the ministry’s commitment to open dialogue and collaborative efforts with key players in the private sector to address challenges and explore opportunities for growth - stressing the need to drive economic prosperity through public private sector partnership.

Responding, the NBC Managing Director expressed delight with the opportunity to host the minister and appreciated government's commitment to engaging with industry stakeholders.

"We are encouraged by the discussions we had with the minister and her team today and believe that it is a significant step towards building a more resilient and sustainable industry, and we are eager to contribute to the ongoing dialogues and initiatives," he stated.

Sladic described the past decade as a testament to the company's unwavering dedication to placing consumers at the core of its operations.

According to him, within the last decade, the Coke system has made a substantial investment of $1.32 billion, enhancing its operational capacity, revolutionizing its supply chain infrastructure, and providing extensive training to its workforce.

"Our commitment has extended beyond our products to encompass a wide range of community initiatives, focusing on empowering women and youth, championing water stewardship, and promoting environmental sustainability and efficient waste management.

"Marking our 70th anniversary, we reinforced our pledge to Nigeria with a €1 million donation, aimed at driving impactful social programs across eight states. He affirmed NBC's ongoing commitment to invest in their Nigerian operations and expressed optimism that favourable business conditions would bolster their capabilities and facilitate further investments."