29 May 2020

The Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Lefoko Moagi has assured Bolux Group and Flo-Tek of government’s support.

The Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Ramotswa constituency said this on May 28 after touring the companies’ facilities at Taung village.

He said government was devoted to facilitating local businesses to ensure that they overcome their challenges.

Mr Moagi said his tour of the two entities was to appreciate the challenges they faced and the workforce as they played a significant role in the country’s economy.

He said the government did not want to lose any business to neighbouring countries hence the need to support to local businesses.

Mr Moagi said there were lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and one of those was the need to develop the local industry to be resilient.

 He highlighted that there was also a need to reduce importation of products that local manufactures use and make those products locally to create employment and grow the economy.

At Flo-Tek, the company Managing Director Mr Vijay Naik said there was opportunity for the country’s economy to be led by the private sector.

He called for the government to commit to supporting the local businesses adding that local products were not guaranteed of support despite their high quality which matches European standards.

He said there was need for a policy on supporting local businesses so that they grow and play a larger role in developing the economy.

At Bolux, the Group Managing Director Mr Christo Ellis said over the years, Bolux had been engaging with government over their challenges.

 He cited that one of their main challenges was South African millers entering the country and competing for the same market.

 Mr Ellis added that Bolux Group had been in the country for the past 35 years with over 425 employees mostly from Ramotswa, Taung and surrounding villages,

 Bolux Group produces household food brands such as maxi bread, pasta king macaroni and spaghetti, A1 super maize meal and snowhite flour among others while Flo-Tek manufacturers and supplies pipes, fittings, tanks and irrigation products started operating in the county in 1998. ENDS