A Malaysian business consortium has invested R30-million in a condom-making factory in Mpumalanga province, South African government news agency Bua News reported on Monday.
The fully equipped condom factory in Ekangala near Bronkhorstspruit, Karex Pty Ltd, is ready to produce and distribute the condoms and has created 150 direct jobs so far.
CEO of the Mpumalanga Investment Initiative (MII), Musi Skhosana, said condoms were a product not easily produced in Third World countries.
“We jumped at this opportunity to bring wealth into the province and of course play a role in fighting HIV/Aids,” Skhosana said.
He added that MII would encourage the Malaysians to help black empowerment companies obtain contracts to distribute the condoms.
Last year, MII facilitated projects worth over R400-million in the province and projects worth R800-million were in the pipeline this financial year, said Skhosana.
“If you include projects not initiated by the MII, investment worth R4-billion was made in the province in the 2002/2003 financial year,” he said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Thai business people met Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu, his cabinet and MII on Wednesday last week during an exploratory visit. The delegation, led by Royal Thai Embassy’s deputy chief of mission in Pretoria Charm Jullamon, indicated that there were potential investment opportunities in the agriculture and eco-tourism sector.
Mpumalanga has also attracted investments from other Far East countries like China. – I-Net Bridge