By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

THE Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has mobilised over K200 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance industrial yards across the country.
In this empowerment intervention, CEEC has targeted four types of economic ventures such as metal fabrication, wood work, automotive works and agro processing.
Head of public relations Glenda Masebe said the commission had mobilised K200 million from AfDB for the financing of the industrial yards which would translate into K20 million per industrial yard.
Ms Masebe said the role of the commission would be to ensure planning of the industrial yards and implementation of one industrial yard in each province.
“So far, funds have been mobilised from AfDB with the intermediation of finance and identification of the sites.
“With land for building these yards available, designing of the industrial yards and working with the Ministry of Works and Supply through the building department, the commission has finished the architectural and engineering designs,” she said.
She said CEEC was the lead agency in the implementation of industrial yards working with the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry with financing expected to commence this month.
Ms Masebe said the commission had made tremendous progress in ensuring the industrial yards were implemented.
She further said the commission had also carried out the remuneration of the street manufacturers in every district.
The Commission through the initiative of the industrial yards expects to empower 80 businesses in each industrial yard which would translate into 800 businesses that will create direct employment for a minimum of 4000 people.
CEEC expected maximum participation of youths in the targeted sectors, especially that the ultimate goal of the commission was to enhance the participation the citizens in the economic development.