Sona Group constructs 120,000-litre capacity ethanol plant to discourage liquor imports
Arjan Mirchandani, chairman of Sona Group of Companies, has disclosed that the group is constructing a 120,000-litre capacity ethanol plant in Sango-Ota in Ogun State, with a view to discouraging further imports of liquor and alcoholic products into the country.
According to Mirchandani, the move would generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs and reduce undue pressure on naira.
Speaking at 2015 Annual Distributors’ Forum and Unveiling of Power Bitters Herbal Liquor organised by the Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited, a subsidiary of Sona Group, Mirchandani said it was high time investors operating in Nigerian economy supported government’s drive to shore up economy through an adequate usage of locally-grown and produced raw materials in the production of goods.
While maintaining that Sona Group of Companies aims to achieve 99 percent local input preference in its production, he noted that Sona Group had created thousands of indirect jobs for many Nigerians in the extractive industry, especially farmers, in addition to thousands of direct employment opportunities created in all the companies within Sona Group.
“Euro Global and its parent company, Sona Group, are in Nigeria for good. Satisfaction to us is knowing that our customers and distributors are happy. This is why we are constantly researching to ensure that we manufacture quality products that meet our customers’ needs and make good business for our distributors to market,” he said.
“Quality is key to us. We are determined to produce quality products using locally-sourced raw materials. The vision is to make products that can be exported to generate foreign exchange for our economy. There is need for Nigerians to develop a long term self-sufficiency plan and we took a step in that direction when we started the construction of 120,000 litres per day ethanol plant here in Ota which is near completion.
“With this, we believe we can meet the needs of the country and also export the product to other markets. We are glad to have great partners that we can work with to make Nigeria great,” he further said.
Meanwhile, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries, a subsidiary of Sona Group, has introduced Power Bitters Herbal Liquor to Nigerian market, just as it rewarded 30 distributors of its products across the country, presenting the certificates of excellence, 32-inch LED Televisions and cash awards, ranging from N340,000 to N3 million to them.
Felix Aighobahi, sales director, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited, said, “We are proud to have committed partners who have grown over the years with us. I’m particularly excited at the new generation of young entrepreneurs who recently joined us and are giving the more established distributors stiff competition for the awards.”
We will continue to improve and increase our products range to ensure that it continues to be competitive and delivers excellent returns to our partners.”
Also, Manish Uniyal, managing director, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries, said, “With the introduction of this product comes a new relationship with a new set of stakeholders which are the farmers who supply us the raw materials for the production of Power Bitters. I’m quite confident that we all have a great story to tell as we share the uniqueness of our traditional herbs with the world.”
RAZAQ AYINLA