Company develops chemicals for local market

Page 30
05-11-08


WOOD Chemicals Limited (WoodChem), one of the participants at the 12th Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Industry Exhibition (GIFEX 2008) has locally developed a variety of chemical products to meet the market demands of its customers.
They are extrafic, a water resistant wood glue; wood lac, a high gloss lacquer and wood glue which are designed to give excellent finishing to wood products manufactured locally to enable local furniture producers, especially to compete effectively with their foreign counterparts.
According to the Managing Director of the company, Mr Albert Kwame Bosomki???, the ultimate goal of the company was to expand and reach out to small scale wood users in every part of the country.
He also said although the company was yet to be set up in every region, its products could be found in the regions.
He said expansion had to do with finances and expressed concern about the bureaucracy of the banks, adding that such practice did not augur well for fast -growing businesses.
Mr Bosomki, therefore, called on the government to support small scale industries by setting up an institution that would certify firms and issue them with letters that would ensure that they had easy access to loans.
He said such a state institution would look at the business plans and operations of firms, pay them regular and surprise visits to ensure that the companies were doing the right thing before issuing them with the letters that would enable them to secure loans with lower interest rates.
“Many small scale industries have fantastic ideals but having access to loans is the problem. The bureaucracy and high interest rates are disincentives to the firms,” he said, adding that the small scale industries could help reduce the unemployment situation in the country.
Mr Bosomki said his company which had been operating for five years had made great strides in the wood working industry and had shown remarkable expertise in the production of wood chemicals such as glues and coatings for wood.
“At wood chemicals we don’t only know-how, but we have more than 30 years expertise acquired from renowned wood working countries like Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Cote d’ Ivoire,” he quipped.
He said the company had adopted adequate safety measures at its factory.