National Sugar Development Council

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Eid Mubarak from all of us at NSDC.

NSDC, Lee Group to set up massive sugar project in Niger

The Niger state governor, Umar Bago, has assured the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and the Lee Group of its commitment to the emergence of another massive sugar project in the state.

Speaking at a meeting with the NSDC and Lee Group teams in the Government House, Minna, the visibly excited governor urged his guests to choose any land in any part of the state and it will be made available for the the Group to institute a multi million dollar sugar production project in the state.

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, had led a delegation of the Council’s officials and that of the Lee Group - owners of GNAL Sugar - to the Niger State Government House as part of efforts to support the emergence of more strategic investments in the sector.

Governor Bago welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the Niger State Government’s readiness to partner with credible investors in agriculture, particularly sugar production.

“Niger State is open to serious investors. We have the land, water, and political will to support projects that will grow our economy and create jobs. The government is ready to provide land for this sugar project from any part of the state that the investor considers suitable,” the Governor said.

He assured that the state government would work closely with NSDC and Lee Group to ensure a conducive investment environment, emphasising collaboration, and long-term partnership as guiding principles.

The visit, according to the NSDC delegation, was aimed at introducing the Lee Group as a renowned investor in large-scale sugar production to Niger state, which is identified as one of Nigeria’s most viable locations for sugarcane development due to its vast, arable land and abundant water resources.

Mr. Bakrin reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in sugar production through credible partnerships and serious investors.

“The Council is deliberate about the kind of investors we bring to our states. Lee Group is a serious conglomerate with a long-standing track record in sugar and industrial development, and this engagement is about building a sustainable, long-term partnership that will benefit the state and Nigeria as a whole,” Mr. Bakrin said.

He explained that NSDC’s role goes beyond policy formulation to actively facilitating engagements between investors and sub-national governments, particularly in unlocking land, infrastructure, and institutional support required for successful sugar projects.

Also speaking, the Project Director of Lee Group, Mr. Lam Wing Ki Wilkins, highlighted the company’s long history in industrial and agro-industrial development, noting that the group has been in operation for over six decades with extensive experience in sugarcane cultivation, processing, and integrated value-chain development across different regions.

“Lee Group has been in the industrial sector for more than 60 years, and we understand that sugar production is a long-term investment. Our interest in Niger state is based on its natural advantages, especially land and water resources, and we are prepared to work patiently with the state government and NSDC to develop a sustainable sugar project,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to NSDC for facilitating the engagement and to the Niger State Government for its openness to partnership, stressing the company’s commitment to sustainability, local value creation, and alignment with Nigeria’s sugar development objectives.

Niger state is the largest state in Nigeria by land area, covering approximately 76,363 km², which accounts for roughly 10% of the country’s total land mass.

The NSDC recently concluded a comprehensive national study which identified about 1.2 million hectares of land across the country as suitable for sugar development.

Based on its unique characteristics, the Council listed Niger among the 11 states with the most suitable land for sugarcane cultivation and major sugar projects. One of the existing brownfield entities, the Golden Sugar Company (GSC), owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, is also located in Sunti, Mokwa local government area of the state.

It would be recalled that the NSDC boss had in November 2025 equally led the Lee Group to the Government House in Jalingo, Taraba state, where Governor Agbu Kefas, quickly made land and other necessities available for the immediate commencement of a multi-million-dollar sugar project in the state.

Ramadan Kareem to you all.

NSDC strikes strategic partnership with NEXIM Bank to scale sugar project financing

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) have struck a strategic partnership to pursue long-term, development-oriented financing for the large-scale transformation of the country’s sugar industry.

This was the outcome of a meeting held between the two organisations on Wednesday in Abuja.

The NSDC delegation led by the Executive Secretary/CEO, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, proposed a crucial partnership with the Bank that will use the Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Financing (EPC+F) model to finance the Council’s pipeline of viable sugar projects. Under the proposed framework, the NSDC would originate and develop bankable, policy-aligned projects and support equity mobilisation, while NEXIM Bank would anchor capital mobilisation by facilitating access to international Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), coordinating syndication with other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), supporting foreign input financing, and providing risk-mitigation instruments, including guarantees and commercial risk insurance.

During the engagement, Mr. Bakrin outlined the significant market opportunity within Nigeria and the wider African sugar sector, noting that the Nigerian sugar market is valued at approximately US$2 billion, while the broader African sugar market is estimated at about US$7 billion. He added that sugar by-products have a market that exceeds US$10 billion in Nigeria.

“Nigeria cannot achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production on short-term capital,” Mr. Bakrin said. “What the sector requires is patient, long-tenor financing deployed at scale and backed by policy certainty. By partnering with NEXIM Bank and international export credit partners, we are putting in place a financing architecture that allows serious investors to execute, not speculate.”

He noted that Nigeria’s sugar industry is currently dominated by refineries reliant on imported raw sugar, including Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, BUA Foods Plc and Golden Sugar Company Limited, which together account for most of the country’s installed refining capacity. Despite average annual sugar consumption of about 1.8 million metric tonnes, domestic sugar production remains limited, resulting in continued import dependence and underutilisation of existing capacity. According to him, expanding local sugarcane cultivation is critical to supplying these refineries, conserving foreign exchange and strengthening Nigeria’s agro-industrial base.

Mr. Bakrin further emphasised that Nigeria is well positioned to competitively serve both domestic and regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), provided that long-term, appropriately priced financing is deployed to scale sugarcane cultivation and processing at industrial levels.

He explained that the EPC+F model has already been successfully deployed by the NSDC through an existing partnership with SINOMACH, a leading Chinese engineering and industrial conglomerate. Under this arrangement, financing of up to US$1 billion has been structured at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus three per cent, a 15-year tenor and a three-year moratorium, to fast-track the development of large-scale sugar projects in the country.

The model is projected to deliver annual foreign exchange savings of approximately US$300 million through import substitution, create over 50,000 jobs across the sugar value chain, and enable up to 25 per cent import substitution within five to ten years.

The NSDC boss outlined the institutional measures already undertaken to de-risk investment in the sugar sector and enhance ex*****on certainly. These include ongoing efforts to codify the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) into law through amendments to the NSDC Act to guarantee policy continuity and investor protection.

According to the NSDC boss, smuggling and other activities that encourage the influx of cheaper products are being tackled by rigorous enforcement and effective implementation of penalties.

He informed the gathering that large-scale sugar projects are structured to create significant employment across farming, processing, logistics and ancillary services. Outgrower schemes are embedded to integrate smallholder farmers into commercial value chains, enhance rural incomes and promote inclusive growth.

Host community participation, he said, is prioritised through preferential employment, skills development and investments in local infrastructure, healthcare and education, supporting social stability and long-term project viability.

The NSDC boss noted that sugarcane cultivation aligns with environmental sustainability objectives, functioning as a renewable crop and year-round carbon sink.

“The sector supports value-added renewable co-products such as ethanol and bioelectricity, contributing to climate and energy-transition goals. NSDC promotes environmentally responsible production models and sustainable land-use practices, alongside inclusive community and outgrower participation, positioning projects to attract climate-aligned and development-oriented capital.

“Sugar projects are anchored on credible operators with proven technical and financial capacity, with community acceptance and land access treated as gating criteria at early stages of development to enhance ex*****on certainty and long-term bankability,” he sad.

In his response, the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Abba Bello, welcomed the initiative and acknowledged the strategic importance of the sugar industry to Nigeria’s economic diversification, export development and value-chain expansion objectives. He expressed NEXIM Bank’s interest in exploring structured partnerships that would unlock long-term financing, strengthen local value chains and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness within regional and international markets.

Mr. Bello commended the structured and ex*****on-focused approach being adopted by the NSDC and reaffirmed NEXIM Bank’s commitment to supporting viable export-oriented and import-substitution projects that align with national development priorities.

NGF to adopt sugar as driver of industrial development for states

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) secretariat has agreed to prioritise sugar as a key product for the acceleration of industrial development in states across the country.

The NGF also accepted to include sugar projects as priority beneficiary in their
engagements with development partners within and outside the country.

The above decisions were made as a consequence of requests made by the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) in the pursuit of its mandate to develop the sugar sector, stop importation of raw sugar, create jobs and pursue the attainment of self-sufficiency in sugar production.

The Forum therefore agreed to a partnership with the NSDC that will focus on supporting states to prepare and position sugar projects that are investor-ready, facilitating structured engagement between state governments, investors, and industry operators, and improving coordination around critical enablers such as land access, infrastructure provision, and incentive frameworks.

The Executive Secretary/CEO of NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, who made the above requests in a recent meeting with the NGF leadership pitched the huge investment opportunities in the sugar sector to the officials, calling on governors of states - through the instrumentality of NGF - which are viable for sugarcane cultivation to embrace sugar project development with open arms.

He listed the 11 states with proven, suitable lands for profitable sugar production as Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Adamawa and Taraba.

Mr. Bakrin noted that recent macroeconomic developments have improved the competitiveness and profitability of local sugar production. “While global sugar prices have remained relatively stable in dollar terms, exchange rate movements have made imports significantly more expensive, thereby enhancing the commercial viability of domestically produced sugar, whose inputs are largely naira-denominated,” the Executive Secretary said.

The NSDC boss emphasised that Nigeria now had strong operational fundamentals for sugar production. According to him, comprehensive assessments have identified approximately 1.2 million hectares of prime land suitable for large scale sugarcane cultivation nationwide, even though the country only needs 200,000 hectares of land to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production. “The availability of suitable land, water resources, labour, and policy incentives positions Nigeria favourably for large-scale sugar investments,” he said.

He informed the gathering that the above critical factors have created an opportunity to invest in Nigeria’s sugarcane growing and processing industry, adding that the sector is now worth $2 billion while with the aid of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AcFTA), it is worth $7 billion on the continent.

Talking about community interest, the NSDC boss said, “the Nigerian sugar industry does not displace communities; instead, it integrates them into the value chain as partners, workers, and stakeholders through outgrower
schemes and employment opportunities.”

He continued: “Sugarcane projects will
empower host communities, promote inclusive development, and support environmental
sustainability.”

A model sugar project producing 100,000 metric tons annually was also cited by Mr. Bakrin as evidence of the sector’s commercial attractiveness, with estimated investments of about US$250 million delivering an internal rate of return of approximately 24 per cent and a positive net present value. He noted that in addition to sugar, such projects generate valuable by-products including ethanol and bio-electricity worth $10 billion, further enhancing returns and sustainability.

Mr. Bakrin acknowledged the contribution of the NGF in the recent breakthrough with the Lee Group in Taraba state, adding that there is a lot more the secretariat can do to facilitate sugar projects development across the states.

On the alleged danger of sugar consumption, Mr. Bakrin, educated the gathering, noting that Nigeria’s per capita sugar consumption, which is estimated at about 9 kilograms per person every year, remains well below global and African averages. This, according to him, indicates substantial headroom for future demand growth as industrialisation deepens and incomes rise, particularly given that over 70 per cent of sugar is consumed by industrial users such as beverage, bakery, confectionery, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the NGF, Dr. Abdulateef Sh*ttu, noted that many state governments are already engaged, or are keen to engage, in sugar-related investments spanning land development, agricultural schemes, and agro-industrial initiatives. He however added that unlocking these opportunities requires effective coordination, credible investment frameworks, and strong alignment between federal policy objectives and state-level development priorities.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring that sugar sector investments deliver inclusive and sustainable development outcomes. He noted that sugar projects are expected to create jobs, strengthen local content, integrate host communities through outgrower schemes, and support social investments in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, while contributing to clean energy generation through bio-electricity.

The NGF serves as a platform for policy coordination, peer learning, and collaboration among State Governments, supporting subnational development initiatives across key sectors of the economy.

The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to supporting states through policy coordination, peer learning, investment mobilisation, and project readiness support. Through platforms such as the NGF Investopedia, the Forum continues to showcase investable opportunities across all 36 States, bridge information gaps, improve project visibility, and position subnational projects for meaningful domestic and international capital inflows.

DISCLAIMER!!! DISCLAIMER!!! DISCLAIMER!!!

This is to inform the general public that the Facebook account in the attached screenshot DOES NOT BELONG to the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin.
The said account is not operated by Mr. Bakrin or anyone acting on his behalf. We hereby urge members of the public to disregard messages or requests coming from the account.
Kindly note that all official communication from the Council will continue to be via formal correspondences, the website: nsdcnigeria.org and social media handles which include:
Facebook: National Sugar Development Council
Instagram: nsdc_nigeria
X: nsdcnigeria
TikTok: nsdc_sugar

Thank you for your cooperation.

‘Sweet Revolution’: Chinese Investors Laud Sugar Master Plan, to Invest $1bn in Nigeria

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has signed a major Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SINOMACH, a Chinese conglomerate, for the development of a sugarcane cultivation and processing project capable of producing one million metric tonnes of sugar in the country.

The MoU, which is an early fruit of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership—an initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—has the potential to attract investments of up to one billion dollars into the Nigeria sugar industry.

According to the agreement, SINOMACH is set to start by constructing a sugar production plant and sugarcane plantation with an annual production capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes, while the NSDC will facilitate and assist in obtaining the necessary authorisations, approvals, and permissions to undertake the project. This will more than double Nigeria’s annual local sugar production.

While SINOMACH is expected to contribute its vast expertise, resources, and experience in the ex*****on of the project on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis, the key biggest advantage of the arrangement is that the Chinese conglomerate will also be financing it.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held in Abuja, the Executive Secretary/CEO of NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, reiterated that 2025 represents a pivotal year for accelerated development in Nigeria.

“It is a critical period during which we expect to make significant strides in our national journey towards economic self-sufficiency and food security, especially given the fiscal pressure that Nigeria faces.

“It goes without saying that a robust sugar industry will deliver several benefits to Nigeria. These include the creation of thousands of sustainable jobs across the value chain. Sugar, by its very nature, leads to extensive rural infrastructure development. For Nigeria, it will also result in substantial foreign exchange savings, as it will substitute imports, which currently account for the bulk of the country’s sugar consumption.

“We envision a sugar sector, when fully developed, that will serve as a blueprint for Nigeria’s broader industrialisation strategy. And, of course, China, being the world’s leader in industrialisation, can easily relate to this.

“We believe that the sugar industry can serve as a model in this regard, as it gives us an opportunity to adopt a creative and transformative approach to achieving scale and speed—critical elements for Nigeria’s development. Specific elements that we believe, if successfully implemented in the sugar sector, can be replicated in other areas of Nigeria’s industrialisation include a strategic approach to sector development, the establishment of enabling policy frameworks, effective aggregation of critical production inputs, acquisition of technical skills and competencies, and innovative financing solutions.

“The signing of this MoU marks the beginning of what we anticipate will evolve into a long-term relationship capable of ultimately delivering as much as one million metric tonnes of locally produced sugar, thereby strengthening our domestic production capacity and reducing import dependence. It is indeed a unique model, as it combines both EPC and development financing—an essential requirement for agro-industrial development in the country,” Mr. Bakrin said.

Also speaking, the Vice President of SINOMACH, Li Xiao Yu, acknowledged that, as Africa’s largest economy, the country’s vigorous implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production, is laudable.

“We deeply admire this vision—it is not only an industrial policy but also a sweet revolution tied to food sovereignty and economic dignity. We firmly believe that, through joint efforts, the success of the plantation and sugar mill project will enhance Nigeria’s sugar self-sufficiency, spur economic development in surrounding areas, create substantial employment, modernise the agricultural value chain, and generate long-term and sustainable social benefits.

“We view our partnership with NSDC not merely as a commercial endeavour, but as a concrete step toward implementing the shared vision of our two Heads of State to enhance agricultural cooperation and promote common development,” he said.

He continued: “We are also actively exploring the implementation of RMB-based financing models to support our collaboration—contributing to the internationalisation of the Chinese currency, diversifying Nigeria’s financing channels, reducing overall costs, and expediting project approvals on the Chinese side. This will ensure stable and efficient funding support.

He further expressed hope that the state eventually selected to host the project in Nigeria could be transformed into the “Sugar Bowl of West Africa.”

Meet the new NSDC Board Chairman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, on Friday 25th of January 2025, as the Board Chairman of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

Senator Ajibola is a reputable legal practitioner, lawmaker, former Attorney-General of Osun State, and former spokesman of the Nigerian Senate.

Born on July 1, 1972, Senator Ajibola initially studied Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Ilorin but later transitioned into law in fulfillment of a lifelong ambition, earning his LL.B. (Hons) from the University of Lagos in 2000. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, where he graduated with a Second-Class Upper Division. He also obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of Lagos, specialising in Secured Credit Transactions and Comparative Company Law. In 2016, he achieved a Ph.D. in Property Law from the same institution.

Bashiru is the Principal Counsel at Lexis Associates and Ajibola Bashiru Legal, Solicitors and Advocates, where he has built a reputable legal practice.

Having made a success out of legal practice, Senator Ajibola has also over the years made significant contributions to politics and governance and national and subnational levels. He served as Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, and subsequently as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun state.
In 2019, he was elected to represent Osun Central Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly on the platform of the APC. During his tenure, he chaired the Senate Committee on Diaspora, NonGovernmental Organisations, and Civil Societies, and later became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, serving as the Senate Spokesperson.

In August 2023, he was elected as the National Secretary of the APC during the party's 12th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.

Senator Ajibola takes over as NSDC Board Chairman from the Etsu of Tsaragi, HRH Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi Kpotwa, who was appointed in acting capacity after Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi resigned from the position in 2018.

Water resources minister pledges to address irrigation challenges facing sugar production

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Joseph Utsev, has pledged to find solutions to the number of issues affecting the supply of water to sugar estates across the country.

The Minister said supporting the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) to achieve its mandate in the area of self-sufficiency in sugar production is a task that must be done, adding that his Ministry would do everything possible to tackle the identified stumbling blocks.

The Minister said this on Tuesday when he hosted the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, and his management team in his office.

Mr. Bakrin sought the support of the Minister in addressing and finding lasting solutions to the issues surrounding irrigation and access to water which the sugar operators complain about.

“Sugarcane requires a steady supply of between 1,500mm and 2,500mm of water throughout its extensive growth cycle, which spans 12 to 18 months. Without this, the crop suffers, leading to lower yields and diminished sugar content.

“Sustainable water sourcing is required for modern irrigation which minimises environmental impact and enhances viability.
Water availability impacts both sugarcane quality and yield. Sufficient water boosts sucrose levels, enhancing sugar output per hectare and supporting profitability.
Sugarcane growth relies on water availability and enables optimal yields.

“Sites with limited water access risk production failures, impacting both targets and local communities. Sustainable water management is essential for stable, long term growth,” he said.

Specifically, the NSDC boss sought the approval of the Minister for a 20km open canal water conveyance system from River Hadejia to Gagarawa in Jigawa state to service the Great Northern Nigeria Agri-business Limited which has a 5,000 TCD project in Hadejia. The Executive Secretary noted that the project will create more than 5,000 jobs from its farm and factory operations on completion.

Going down memory lane, the ES informed the Minister that GNAL signed an MOU with the Jigawa State Government in June 2015 to develop a sugarcane farm and processing factory to produce 100,000 tons of sugar annually.

“Based on this MOU, GNAL acquired over 12,000Ha of farmland in Gagarawa LGA of the state.

“The design and the tender process for the construction of the factory have been completed and more than 1,600 ha of land has been cleared up to date.

“In 2018, a Water Use License with an annual water abstraction threshold of 249 millionm³ was granted to GNAL by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for irrigation of the sugarcane farm.

“The Gagarawa project zone has no surface water resources and the need to convey water through the open canal system from Hadejia River to the GNAL farm for the sugarcane cultivation and sugar mill operations is imperative.

“The design of the project’s Bulk Water Supply (BWS) and Field Irrigation System was completed in 2022 and submitted to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for approval. However, this approval is yet to be granted,” the NSDC boss said.

He therefore requested that the Minister intervene and grant approval of GNAL’s design of the sugar estate’s Bulk Water Supply (BWS) and Field Irrigation System.

Mr. Bakrin also sought the implementation of the Presidential approval for the exemption of businesses participating in the Nigeria Sugar Masterplan (NSMP) II from payment of Annual Right-of-Way or assigned water usage or any such fees under the National Inland Waterways Act. This request, he said, is essential to the success of the Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), Numan.

“A Presidential approval was given in March 2023 for the exemption of businesses participating in the NSMP from payment of Annual Right-of-Way or assigned water usage or any such fees under the National Inland Waterways Act. However, Savannah Sugar Company continues to face increasing water charges from Kiri Dam for its use of water despite this approval.

“DSR applied for the approval for the Ministry in 2022, to construct a Primary Canal that will supply water to parts of its estate. However, this request is still pending in the Ministry,” he said.

Other DSR-specific requests made by the NSDC team include the approval of its request to support the dredging of the Kiri Dam and the necessary Primary Canals; approval of DSR’s request for the construction of a primary canal that will supply water to its estate.

He noted that the project has a workforce of over 15,000 skilled and semiskilled workers and it’s water usage is expected to increase as it places more land under cane.

Mr. Bakrin also made a couple of proposals for Niger River Flooding Management to manage flood risk to Sunti, Niger state, where Golden Sugar Estate is located. The proposals include the conduct of regular dredging of the Niger River to enhance water flow capacity, installation of flow gauges along key points of the river to improve real-time monitoring and early warning capabilities and improvement of collaboration among key stakeholders connected to the river.

The ES sought the enhancement of the ability to agree and generate targets for the coming season and the cycle of water releases from the reservoirs that would serve both power generation and irrigation needs, whilst optimising flood control.

He also sought the significant improvement of meteorological and climatological forecasting, which will over time, enhance the capacity to anticipate and respond to flooding patterns.

This project, he said, “has created about 5,000 jobs but faces significant threat of flooding from the River Niger.”

The NSDC helmsman emphasised the importance of doing everything possible to ease local production, saying if all the bottlenecks are not removed, the operators will continue to import from Brazil.

“We need to stop this because the harm it does to our economy is so significant. This is the reason they keep giving for why they say it is too expensive for us to produce locally. We can't allow this to continue to happen. It is damaging the local economy,” he said.

Responding, the Minister frowned at the abysmal 3 percent local production of the country’s annual sugar consumption, saying he is willing to work with the NSDC and other stakeholders to address the issues.

“You are welcome. As we all know, sugarcane cannot actually do anything reasonable without water. Sugarcane is about 70% water content. Even if the fibres are there and the water is not there, it cannot be enhanced. So what we want to assure you is that the Ministry is open and available at all times to support the local production of sugar. Just give us the necessary information at the right time. That is just what we need to key into it. Because whatever we can do to support any person, organisation or private partners in achieving the mandate of the state, we are ready. So, I want to assure you that all the proposals here are welcome.

“So once again, I want to thank you so much for the effort you are making in reviving this country economically and enhance the well-being of our people. We will look at it. And any support or any assistance you need from us, as I said, is welcome. Whether it’s our agencies, whether it's not our agencies and even other places somewhere else, it's something that relates to our mandate, you are free to write to us. Even when there are instances we have to intervene with our sister ministries, you can as well reach out to us,” the Minister said.