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Aveng Infraset of South Africa is to establish a factory in Sekondi to produce slippers and other services for the railway industry.

The company with offices in almost all African countries is known for its leading role in construction across the continent with more than 50 years experience.

This was made known by Mr Joe Ghartey, the Minister of Railway Development, when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Paramount Chief Essikado to brief him about the project.

He was accompanied by Mr John Essel, Managing Director of Railways and Mr Desmond Dickson, Chief Operating Officer of Concrete Products and Logistics Limited, a Ghanaian partner for the project.

Mr Ghartey, said the establishment of the company in Ghana affirmed the confidence the international community had in the government to revive the railway sector and “we cannot afford to disappoint our people”.

He said many investors had expressed interest in partnering the government to revive the railway sector, which required seven billion dollars to bring it into perspective.

Mr Ghartey expressed gratitude to the company for choosing to help in growing the local economy through job creation.

Mr Kobus Burger, General Manager and International Operations Director of Aveng Infraset said Ghana had all the raw materials needed for the Railway industry and therefore did not see the need for the country to import the produce at a higher cost.

He said producing the slippers and other products locally would come at a cheaper cost to the government, create jobs and offer another opportunity to grow the local economy.

Nana Nketsia called on the government to put in place an enabling environment for the African youth to be economically empowered.

This, he said would prevent them from crossing the Mediterranean in search of greener pastures.

“Let’s stop our youth from this deadly voyage and raise the awareness on the dangers associated with such trips and the humiliation that awaits them," he said.

The Paramount Chief said: “This is the time we have to motivate our young people to have a sense of belonging and understanding of the economics and politics of the people, which is key to maintaining peace."

Nana Nketsia expressed happiness that an African company had chosen to invest in a sister country.