SSBL OPENS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTH SUDAN

BUSINESS
• Invests USD 50 Million

By Mugume D. Rwakaringi

INVESTMENT/JUBA-SOUTH SUDAN, DEC 2009

The managing Director for South Sudan Beverages Limited (SSBL) a subsidiary of SABMiller plc, Mr. Ian Alisorth has praised South Sudan as a conducive Country for investment noting the existence of virgin market, Nile Fortune has reliably established.

With less than one year since SSBL started production, the sales and production has more than doubled.
Mr. Ian said that SSBL will benefit the government through taxes and citizens directly by providing employment opportunities to citizens.

“We directly employ in our factory over 1200 workers who include 200 factory technicians and 500 distributors and stockers”, noted Mr. Ian.

SSBL has also promised to encourage farming in a bid to have food security in South Sudan in particular for those communities neighbouring the factory.

He added: “We give the factory waste inform of manure to the farmers such that they can be able to improve their livelihoods”.

The community has been advised to invest in agricultural products which will fetch ready market for this factory.

Soghurm, Cassava and Sugar Canes have been earmarked as the mostly needed raw materials for SSBL.

SSBL makes about 3000 litres of beer per hour when operational which generates a growth income of at least 2.5 Million SDG per month. SAB Millers through Southern Sudan Breweries Limited (SSBL) a looping Fifty Million worth of United States Dollars ($ 50 M). The factory donates 0.50 Sudanese Pounds (SDG) from each Litre of beer sold by SSBL as a sign of giving back to the community.

“Our production has now more than doubled within this short time”, said a seemingly happy Mr. Deng Mading Mijak, SSBL Corparate Affairs Director in an exclusive interview with Nile Fortune as he shows me around the factory.


Tasked whether these investors are not scared by similar products especially those imported from other Countries and other Companies with related products, SSBL Managing Director Mr. Ian expressed confidence since he believes that they (SSBL) stand a comparably bigger advantage by providing quality products at an affordable price.

“We are a multinational company thus have a comparative advantage”, noted Mr. Ian quickly adding that they also lobby from GoSS to protect them especially protection against dumping.

SSBL started with White Bull lager (Beer) but has now started producing soft drinks (Club Minerals) and plans are underway for bottled water (commonly known as Mineral water). It also supplies other SAB millers plc products from her sister companies from other countries such as South Africa, United States and South Africa a move aimed at providing quality.

SSBL becomes a Largest manufacturing Investor in South Sudan with fifty Million United States Dollars ($ 50 M USD) and is optimistic to making profits after pioneering a beer factory in South Sudan.

“We have as international standard laboratory in South Sudan”, noted Bismark Oroma, SSBL Quality control Manager (QCM) while pointing at a $ 200.000 Alicoliser Beer Plus (ABP)which is used to control the level of alcohol in beer.

Mr. Deng Mading noted that SSBL should be credited for coming at this time to invest such amount of money in South Sudan. “This becomes a good example for other intending investors in South Sudan”, he explained.

SSBL donates 0.5 SDG from each litre sold to benefit the surrounding community as a give back to the community.

It also provides safe drinking water for the community and pays different taxes to both Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and Central Equatoria Government (CES).

“We allow students and other experts to use our laboratory facilities”, noted Mr. Wadada Davidson. Adding that Students and other researchers in Sudan should feel free to come and do their experiments in SSBL Factory without any costs.

SABMiller plc, is one of the world’s leading brewers with operations and distribution agreements across six continents with group revenue including the attributable share of associates’ and joint ventures’ revenue of US$4,509 million as per September 2009 unaudited report.

In Africa, SABMiller has brewing or beverage interests in 32 countries in addition to South Africa. This includes 18 countries through a strategic alliance with the Castel group, and several countries where SABMiller is a Coca-Cola bottler, including Angola, Botswana and Zambia.

South Sudan has had a relative stability after the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 which brought an end to over two decade war between mainly Sudanese People’s Liberation Army/Movement and the Khartoum government. South Sudan remains depending on imported goods especially from her neghbouring Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia and others from Khartoum.

Ends