Argisol International GmbH a member of the Argisol BEWA GmbH acting with its partners and its Nigerian Company Argisol Building Systems Limited, announced the signing of a long-term agreement with the Enugu Industrial Park (Free Zone), also known as Enpower – FTZ, that will facilitate the investment of over 30 million Euros by Argisol in a manufacturing facility – the second of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The factory site, located in the Nsude –Eke Free zone area of Enpower-FTZ, shall on completion, create up to 6000 direct and indirect jobs. A good percentage of those employed will be trained either locally or in Germany to manufacture Argisol Building systems and complementary building accessories.
In a statement released in Obersülzen, Germany, March 1, 2019 ,Roelof Westerhof, Managing Director, Argisol Building Systems Limited, said the decision to invest and locate the Argisol manufacturing plant in the Enugu Free zone was taken following a rigorous evaluation of other potential sites in Nigeria and West Africa. “We acknowledge and appreciate the cooperation and support received from the Enugu State Government and Enpower FTZ. The choice of Enugu was predicated on the infrastructure development in the state, investment incentives, the peaceful and conducive business environment, low crime rates and friendly local communities which encouraged the investment decision”.
Also speaking, Mr Joseph Ejim, Chairman and CEO of Argisol Nigeria, reiterated that the Argisol plant would generate long-term economic benefits not just to Enugu State but also to the rest of the country and beyond. He disclosed that Argisol products from the Enugu Free Zone, would be exported across Sub-Sahara Africa and beyond and that the factory would also attract investment in other related building products and accessories evolving into an eco-system that will bring down the overall cost and increase the energy efficiency of building construction in the region.
Reacting to the development, Mr Emeka Ene, Chairman and Managing Director, Enugu Enpower Free Zone expressed deep appreciation for the decision by Argisol to set up their factory in the Free Zone. He assured the company of the continued support of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, Enpower Free Zone Management and the Enugu State Government to facilitate the development and operations of the Argisol manufacturing facility as one of the recognized Anchor-investors in the Enpower Free Trade Zone. That Argisol’s foreign direct investment in the free zone was a recognition of the positive investment climate created by the State government to attract foreign investors to Enugu State.
Also, the traditional ruler of the Nsude community, one of the host communities where the Enugu Free Trade zone is located, Igwe (Prof) C Onyia, welcomed the news of the establishment of the factory and assured Argisol and all other investors in the free zone of the support and cooperation of the communities that make up the ancient Nsude kingdom.
Construction of the Argisol factory in Enugu would commence immediately following site preparation works and the ground-breaking ceremony at a date to be announced and would be completed and commissioned within 9 – 12 months.
