Government officials and community members during a meeting in Alok Payam, Aweil Centre County (Photo by Sudans Post)
AWEIL — Officials in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have assessed a proposed site in Alok Payam, Aweil Centre County, for an Egyptian investment project expected to focus on meat processing and milk production.
The assessment was conducted on Wednesday as state and county officials, alongside community representatives, inspected the proposed site and consulted residents over the allocation of land to the Egyptian investors.
Peter Natale Ukech, the newly appointed Commissioner of Aweil Centre County, said the visit was aimed at identifying suitable land where the Egyptian company could establish its operations.
“We visited Alok Payam to identify the area where the company will operate. The chiefs, women, youth, and elders accepted that the land should be given,” Ukech said.
Ukech said the project would be able to commence once the necessary agreements and approvals are completed.
The commissioner welcomed the investment and urged the Egyptian company to begin work without delay, saying the community had raised no major objections to the project.
Paramount Chief Santino Azubeir in Alok Payam, Aweil Centre County, also said the community welcomed the proposed investment.
“As paramount chief of the area, my people and I welcome the initiative,” Azubeir said.
The assessment team included Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Minister of Land and Utilities Dominic Kang Deng, who said officials had found no major difficulties with allocating land for the project.
“As a government, we thank the people of Egypt for investing in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State,” Kang said, encouraging more investors to consider the state.
He described the state as peaceful and diverse and said the government was committed to creating a conducive environment for investors.
Jafer Riiny Riiny, the State Minister of Health and acting Minister of Animal Resources, said the project would produce processed meat for local consumption, with surplus products potentially exported to international markets.
He said the investment could also help address unemployment among young people in the state.
Riiny said the local community had raised concerns about youth unemployment and that the proposed project was expected to create about 300 jobs.
“The community has raised the issue of unemployed youth and has pledged to employ 300 individuals. We see that as a benefit to our people,” he said.
According to officials, the community has agreed to provide about 450,000 square kilometers of land for the Egyptian company’s operations as preparations for construction begin.
The proposed investment is expected to contribute to the development of the livestock and dairy sectors, create employment opportunities, and increase local production of processed meat and milk products.
