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Can Manufacturers Set Up in Lobatse |
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Can Manufacturers Botswana, involved in the production of food cans, was this week officially opened in Lobatse.
 It was described as a welcome addition to ongoing endeavours to expand the manufacturing sector and improve the country’s competitiveness, both regionally and globally.
The company employs 30 people. The technology allows for the production of up to 600 cans per minute and 500 000 cans per day on a double shift.
The general manager of Can Manufacturers Pty Ltd, Mr. Bucker Bannister, described the industry as complicated because it demands the best quality and dictates stringent food safety standards. He gave the example of metal cans, which, he said, must be manufactured to satisfy minimum shelf life requirements and be capable in certain instances of preserving food up to five years.
He said the industry boasts leading research centres and continues to bring new and innovative developments against the back drop of ever increasing economic and environmental demands.
Bannister said the company is faced with many challenges: the escalating prices of raw materials worldwide and the fact that emerging markets such as China grab all the available steel, basically setting the tone of market prices, “with most of the production of world steel being in the hands of two major producers, Mittal Steel and Tata.” Other challenges include lack of alternative price competitive steel suppliers in the region and Botswana’s geographic location; the business is negatively affected b y the high cost of transport insurance for shipping of raw materials.
The Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) has invested P126 million in the project. Can Manufacturers intend to secure another production line in order to produce new types of cans for beverages. Bannister said another line of production would create even more jobs.
Officially opening the factory, Vice President, Lt General Mompati Merafhe said the company was a symbol of the private sector’s growing importance to economic diversification efforts. He said the Company, “will no doubt enhance the performance of our manufacturing sector and give an early boost to Government’s import substitution drive.” Can Manufacturing Botswana will reduce the number of cans and other containers that the country imports, he said.
Merafhe said the Company will also help diversify Lobatse economy, which is heavily reliant on the beef industry.
“We are convinced that Botswana can be transformed from being a predominantly importing and consuming country to being a manufacturing and exporting economy,” he said. The Vice President encouraged a strong partnership between government and the private sector in executing economic development strategies.
By AUBREY LUTE
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