Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:13:27 +0000
By Simon Muntemba
WONDERFUL Group of Companies of China has erected a US $35 million tile manufacturing plant in Lusaka that will use locally-sourced raw materials.
The plant will produce high quality ceramic, porcelain and marble wall tiles as a way of reducing the cost of tiles in the Southern African region.
Wonderful Groups Chief executive officer, Huang Yaochi disclosed that more than 250 Zambians have so far been employed during the construction stage which was near completion.
He also said that the plant will commence its operations next month which would see the number of employees rising to 1,000, employed directly, while about 200 will be engaged as suppliers of raw materials.
“The first phase of our operations which starts next month will see 25 expatriates at different stages employed with 500 jobs given to Zambians. We are also glad to report that so far more than 250 Zambians have been employed during the construction stage,
“ Marco polo tiles is a subsidiary of Wonderful group of companies established to venture into the manufacturing of high quality high quality ceramic, porcelain and Marble wall tiles using the locally sourced materials, thereby making these products truly Zambian,” Mr. Yaochi said.
Mr Yaochi told journalists yesterday in Lusaka after the tour of the plant were installations of machinery has reached an advanced stage that the end product will match international standards.
“ The equipment used to manufacture tiles was imported from top company Kiln Professional in China and it has state of the art laboratory equipment installed just to ensure that the quality of our tiles are not compromised,” he explained.
Mr. Yaochi indicated that with the engagement of qualified technocrats, the company would produce 10, 000 square meters of tiles per day, the capacity that can cater for 33 medium houses fixed with Marco polo tiles.
He said that with that estimated production capacity, the company was convinced that it will not starve the Zambian market but produce to satisfy the local market as well as the entire Southern African region.
