By Letuka Chafotsa
MASERU — Despite the recent closure of two firms and the suspension of operations by another, the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), has said the industrial sector would still be able to maintain the targeted average of 40 000 jobs.
LNDC’s Caretaker Chief Executive Officer, Tseko Bohloa, was addressing the media on Monday at LNDC offices where he explained current developments on mobilisation of new investors and the corporation’s strategy for diversification of products and markets.
Bohloa said LNDC was expecting the optimum employment figure of 40 000 in the industrial sector in the main three locations of Maseru, Maputsoe and Mohale’s Hoek to be sustained.
“We expect the employment numbers to hover around this average , and at all times we attempt to ensure that all the available factory shells are filled and occupied to provide jobs that will help us attain that target,” Bohloa said. Bohloa insisted that Lesotho remained competitive enough to attract more investors even though there was some competition regionally and internationally.
“Lesotho would cope due to its stability and the discipline of the labour force”, he said, adding that: “While we make the best effort to retain the investors that we have mobilised and recruited, we also take full cognisance of the economic pressures and influences that impact on their business decisions.”
According to Bohloa, the LNDC had undertaken a diligence exercise in conjunction with Industrial Development Cooperation of South Africa to revamp the production of Trout Fish from Lejone Fish Farm for supply South African markets.
Among other new investors, Bohloa said a new Plastic hanger manufacturing company called GTA from Dubai commenced operations two weeks ago with a staff complement of 25 which is likely to go up in excess of 100 when their Swaziland operations are moved to Lesotho.
Another firm, Johnson Controls would start manufacturing car seat covers at the closed Philips factory premises in Tikoe, in addition to yet another company which would start producing leather seat covers for BMW cars at Ha Nyenye in Maputsoe soon.
He was allaying fears fed by the closure of two firms last month and the suspended operations by another based in Mohale’s Hoek. Besides the closure of Philips Lighting Maseru which manufactured fluorescent genie lamps at Ha Tikoe industrial area, Ternsportswear at Maputsoe was also closed due to bankruptcy while the Saxenburg a clothing manufacturer in Mohale’s Hoek suspended operations after struggling to pay its rentals and other utilities.
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