Liberia: Indian Ambassador Visits Jeety Rubber Factory, Satisfied with Progress

India’s Ambassador to Liberia, Pradip Kumar Yadav, has toured the Jeety Rubber Factory, which is expected to commence production of finished rubber products in Liberia. 

During a visit to the factory, Amb. Yadav noted that the facility, when operational, would not just boost the local economy but will provide jobs for many and a stable income for rubber farmers. 

The factory, which is being constructed in Weala, Margibi County, is historic as it is expected to be in the country to produce tyres, rain boots, and latex gloves locally.

Rubber, which is one of Liberia’s traditional revenue sources, accounting for 12.5 percent of total export in 2020, is exported in its raw form without any value addition despite the county boosting nearly 600,000 acres of the crop planted across the country.

The lack of value addition means Liberia has for decades missed out on the lion share of revenue captured at the end of the value chain, in countries that have the capacity to add value to raw materials extracted from the country.

But the Jeety Rubbery Factory is expected to drastically change with its capacity of producing 20 metric tons of finished product goods when operational at the end of this year. 

“The initiative taken by Jeety in the county to produce rubber material will bring economic activities to the country,” Yadav said. “The building of the factory would also provide jobs for the locals and boost the local economy.”

The factory upon completion will also boost the income of rubber farmers in Margibi County, leading to the prosperity and development of Weah and the Cinta Township.

In brief remarks, Upjit Singh Sachdeva, the CEO of the factory, noted that the factory is expected to become operational by the end of 2023. 

“I am a citizen of India by passport but a citizen of Liberia by heart and the building of the factory is for citizens of Weala and will make sure that business activities here boost,” Sachdeva said.