Mr Kamar Bakrin, the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), has projected accelerated development of sugar projects in the country in 2025.
Bakrin said this in Abuja, when he met with representatives of Utham Sucrotech International from India, Niger Food Security Systems and Logistics Ltd and American West African Agro (AWAA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting explored the scope of activities of Utham in project development.
According to the NSDC boss, this is in view of the Greenfield project being established by AWAA in Niger State for which Utham will be providing services.
He assured the investors of adequate support geared towards accelerating the development of projects in Nigeria with emphasis on yield improvement in sugar estates.
Bakrin requested to know the expectations in sugar recovery rate with respect to the activities of Utham at the Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) and he was assured 12.3 per cent.
Earlier, the company’s Global Business Development Leader, Mr Sanjiv Gulati, presented its activities to the NSDC, which included field and factory establishment of sugar projects across India, Europe and Africa.
Gulati also spoke of Utham’s ability to fabricate equipment for sugar projects, adding that 13 per cent sugar recovery had been achieved by the company.
He said the company had capacity to manage sugar projects while assuring the NSDC boss that Utham’s presence in Nigeria would boost sugar project development and the overall development of the subsector.
Also, Mr Flavio Castellari, a financial expert with Uttam, gave an overview of the Brazilian Sugar industry and funding strategies that could be adopted in Nigeria.
The Executive Chairman of Niger Foods, Mr Sammy Adigun, spoke on the importance of financing through sovereign and corporate guarantee for the development of 100,000Ha Sugar project in Niger State.
The meeting was attended by NSDC’s Director of Strategy and Performance Management, Ms Edirin Akemu; the and the Senior Adviser to the Executive Secretary, Mr Teslim Bello.
Others are the Acting Director of Project Development and Investment Promotion (PDIP), Mr Balarebe Ladan; and Head, Project Development and Support Division, Mr John Adaga. (NAN)
