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The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) has extended the commencement of work on the Komenda Sugar Factory in the Central Region from July to August 30, this year. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, said the MOTI was still working to ensure that all procurement processes on the $35- million project were finalised. The approval of a $35-million credit facility between the Government of Ghana and the Government of India by Parliament last year paved the way for the revamping of the defunct sugar factory. Earlier statements indicated that the project to revamp the old dilapidated factory would begin this month. The project will provide direct employment for 400 people, with more than 2,000 out-grower farmers also benefiting. But at the inauguration of an 11-member board for the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) in Cape Coast, Alhaji Iddrisu said the ministry was still finalising procurement processes for the start of work at the end of August this year. He said the government would support out-grower farmers to grow for the soon-to-be revitalised sugar factory. CEDECOM was established in 1990 as a technical wing of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to implement the RCC�s development policy and programme, with emphasis on private sector towards the sustainable economic development of the Central Region. The board members include the Central Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong�Chairman; Messrs Samuel Adu Yeboah, Benard Joe Appiah, Foster Andoh, Isaac Sam Dadzie, Sam Brew Butler and Abakah Quansah. Others are Mr Spencer Taylor, Mr Asare Sintim Barima, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi, Dr Mamaa Entsua-Mensah. Alhaji Iddrisu stated that the government would also initiate the Western Corridor Development Authority soon with responsibilities similar to the CEDECOM but with a larger mandate to speed up development in the Central and Western regions. Alhaji Iddrisu noted that though CEDECOM had over the years worked to improve the development of the Central Region, CEDECOM must work hard to further change the socio-economic growth in the Central Region. Alhaji Iddrisu said the government as part of efforts to get more investments into the four most deprived regions, the Central Region and the three northern regions, it was giving tax incentives to all investors who would invest in these four regions. He added that the Central Region was being treated as a free zone for agro-processing industries to encourage more of such investments in the region to create employment and further added that the region would benefit from an irrigation project to support agricultural activities. The Central Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong, who is the chairman of the CEDECOM Board, said there was the need to harness and galvanise all economic potentials of the Central Region into viable ventures that would create jobs for the unemployed and reduce poverty in the area. He urged the members to bring their varied expertise to bear to help accelerate the development of the region. Dr Maama Entsua-Mensah, a member of the board, pledged to work hard to improve the lives of the people in the region.