BY FRED NDUNG’U
PG Bison has announced efforts to support artisans by providing them with hands-on training sessions on correct ways to handle furniture products, machining and assembly techniques, usage of hand tools and a range of best practices required up the value chain, indicating the rosy outlook of timber industry.
This is in line with the government’s focus on growing the SME sector and increasing employment opportunities – the company has helped create 200 SMEs through transfer of skills, and is expected to change how over 1,000 individual installers will live and work.
“Furniture manufacturing can significantly contribute to employment and government revenue,” said Hitesh Mediratta, MD PG Bison Kenya. “Our government needs to address the high level of duties imposed on wood-based panels and other raw materials used in the manufacturing of furniture and the high levels of inward logistic costs.”
Mr Mediratta said that the firm’s “ex-factory costs” are currently far higher than that of factories in China and this is primarily due to the comparative cost of inputs into the plant. Kenya, he said, must aim to attain a vibrant export market.
“Our government needs to address the high level of duties imposed on wood-based panels and other raw materials used in the manufacturing of furniture and the high levels of inward logistic costs, the MD reiterated, adding that their Mombasa-based plant, launched in 2009, and located along Lumumba road in Mombasa City, will (kind of) inherit most Nairobi operations.
“We are shifting our major equipment and manufacturing operations to the factory and we shall commission it by end of October this year,” he told a battery of journalists after a tour of the revamped Nairobi plant.
These investments are driven by our strong local partnership, resilient economic outlook and the government’s supportive policy in the manufacturing industry and their recent announcement of increased investment in the housing sector.
