TIAST Group held its 7th Agricultural Industrialization Conference under the theme Financial and Technical Support for Cassava Processing to bring on board key stakeholders and to communicate the strategic financial and technological support TIAST Group has put in place for potential clients.
The conference was organized in partnership with Stanbic Bank and the Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA) to present a groundbreaking opportunity for all cassava farmers and inculcate the concept of value-addition by establishing a fully-automated factory for cassava farmers and investors on November 18, 2021 at TIAST Club House 1, Canwin Hotel.
The Co-CEO of TIAST Group, Freca Xiao in delivering his speech on the day stated that TIAST Group is willing to cooperate with local partners, companies and even educational institutions to revamp the agricultural sector of the economy. He added that TIAST has observed the challenges of agricultural industrialization which are financial and technological constraints; hence it has all the solutions to make the agriculture sector function effectively.
The Chairman of the First Machinery Group, Mr. William Oppong Bio also addressed all stakeholders and placed key emphasis on the importance of TIAST Group’s initiative to Ghana and West Africa at large. He stated emphatically that all cassava farmers should leverage on agricultural industrialization to create wealth and more employment in the agriculture sector.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Augustine Esamoah, Business Development Manager at TIAST Group, gave a brief but detailed overview of what TIAST Group offers to its clients. He mentioned that TIAST Group in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Stanbic Bank provides a financial leasing of 70% – 80% of the total factory cost. “We are providing an opportunity for all who will partner to be part of the 1,000 factories we will set up”, he said. He further added that financial challenges have deterred thousands of people from the agricultural sector.
In giving an assurance for the support from Stanbic Bank, a representative from Stanbic Bank, Mr. Benedict Kwasi Obeng revealed that TIAST Group has presented a ground breaking opportunity for local framers, entrepreneurs, investors and all interested parties to be a part of agricultural industrialization since it brings in more employment. He was quick to admit that the initiative is capable of creating wealth for the locals due to the global market available for the cassava starch. He however encouraged all interested parties to join hands with TIAST Group in order to achieve its set goals.
Speaking on technological and technical services, Ms Priscilla Fiati disclosed that TIAST Group offers technological and technical support by designing, installing and maintaining a fully-automated cassava starch factory. She also disclosed that TIAST Group provides an on-site technician and engineers for proper and effective supervision of the factory. TIAST Group machines are operating 24/7 non-stop with less human efforts, she said. In furtherance of her explanation, she added that TIAST Group will train locals who will run the factory, thus contributing to the creation of employment and achieving the vision of localization and offering standardized machinery. She also assured clients of the availability of instant spare parts when any part of the machine needs a replacement.
In delivering a speech on Offtake services, a Business Development Executive at TIAST Group, Ms. Irene Sackey communicated that there is an already existing market for cassava starch globally thus TIAST Group will provide quick off-take services, meaning a farmer or an investor who partners with TIAST Group does not need to worry about how he or she will sell the cassava starch.
Also, the Greater Accra Regional Agric Director, Mr Eric Asamani disclosed that the Government of Ghana has a very keen interest in agriculture thus has provided subsides on farm equipment like tractors, ploughs, harvesters, among others as well as fertilizers. He revealed that government is in full support of TIAST Group initiative and is also contributing its maximum quota to the firm establishment of agriculture in Ghana and cassava processing at large. He added that there is fifty (50) per cent subsidy on fertilisers and encouraged majority of farmers to embark on industrializing the sector.
In attendance were the Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru, the former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon Catherine Afeku, the Greater Accra Regional Agric Director, Mr Eric Asamani, the Chairman of the First Machinery Group, Mr William Oppong Bio, representatives from Stanbic Bank and other important dignitaries.