MONROVIA — The United States government, through its Embassy near Monrovia, has heaped praises on the former Indian Honorary Consul General to Liberia, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, for providing job opportunities to hundreds of Liberians at his newly established rubber processing plant operating in the country as part of efforts to improve Liberia’s shattered economy.
Mr. Sachdeva is commonly known as Jeety in Liberia. He’s the chief executive officer of the Jeety Rubber Liberia Limited processing plant located in Weala, Margibi County.
According to the Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Liberia, Catherine Rodriguez, the operations of the company aligns with the embassy’s economic development plan which it believes would move Liberia forward.
She made these comments shortly after touring the company’s facilities on Thursday, June 20.
She observed that though post-conflict Liberia has benefitted from assistance from the US and others, the establishment and operations of Jeety Rubber Company will directly help provide opportunities for the development of the Liberian economy.
“Jeety, you have a never-ending family here. I know Liberia has been benefiting from foreign assistance for many years, but this (company) is an economic development that will provide opportunities and you (Jeety) are providing that opportunities.”
She observed that testimonials provided by the locals in the operational area of the company clearly show that Mr. Sachdeva is providing Liberians opportunities to develop themselves and the country’s economy.
Madam Rodriguez emphasized that the company is not only making an impact on the lives of its employees, but also residents in its operational area.
She made specific reference to the move being made by Jeety Rubber Company to prioritize the locals in purchasing their goods, and the extra monies being given to employees to pay the school fees of their children, amongst others.
“You are providing opportunities beyond the people that work here; but people in the communities from the food that you are buying. Your money and vision here is a force multiple. And so, for that, I think we need to give Mr. Jeety a big round of applause.”
According to her, the operations of the company will provide hope for Liberia and its citizens and help ensure that the post-conflict nation becomes a “powerhouse economically for the next century.”
“I look to working with the organizations that are here to ensure that farmers continue selling.”
Madam Rodriguez observed that farmers are the “backbone” for the development of the economy of any nation and Liberia is no exception.
Speaking early, Mr. Sachdeva recalled that the construction of his rubber processing plant commenced in June 2022.
According to him, the company fully commenced its operations in September 2023 and the first shipment of processed rubber was made in November of the same year.
He said the company intends to process between 220 to 225 tons of rubber, though it is presently processing at a lower level due to the unavailability of unprocessed rubber.
Mr. Sachdeva, however, assured that he would manufacture rubber gloves of all kinds following a regular supply of latex rubber within an 18-month period.
He added that he would also produce tyres and other rubber materials in Liberia if unprocessed rubber is purchased in huge quantities.
“The rubber supply is very less due to a couple of reasons. One is because of global climate change. In the month of May 2024, I got 2,312 tons of rubber.”
Mr. Sachdeva expressed the hope that his company would provide additional job opportunities for Liberians and supply neighboring countries with quality rubber materials in the future.
He used the occasion to commend small farm rubber holders, the Rubber Planters Association, for their level of support and cooperation over the years.
He observed that following the establishment and operations of his company, many small farm holders have seen the need to expand their farms to sell rubber at a larger scale.
Mr. Jeety pointed out that as part of efforts to cement and sustain the relationship between his company and the local farmers; he has pledged to provide duty free and other privileges to those selling the highest unprocessed rubber to his company on a monthly basis.
He said about 100,000 signs would also be provided to local farmers to plant and grow the latex rubber in five years as his own way of empowering and helping them to grow.
Mr. Sachdeva further underscored the need for citizens and others to engage into commercial farming to move the country forward.
“The best way to give to the people of Liberia is to help the country through commercializing farming. Since we are not commercializing farming, let’s grow rubber, cocoa and coffee. The green revolution will help develop the country.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Small Rubber Farm Holders Roland Johnson recounted the constraints faced by members of his organization prior to the establishment of Jeety Rubber Liberia Limited Company.
He recalled that brokers of the sector discouraged small farm holders from investing to generate more income.
He claimed that their commodities were most often taken by these brokers on credit, thereby refusing to pay them their legitimate money.
Mr. Johnson said 25% was also forcibly taken from them by these brokers.
He noted that the situation at the time discouraged and imposed additional hardship on them and their respective family members.
“We as small rubber farm holders in Liberia have been struggling for so many years. Some of us inherited farms from our parents who are late today, some of them are widows or do not have the means to plant. Before Mr. Jeety could come to invest here, the rubber sector was totally embarrassed. The rubber brokers made the small rubber farmers very discouraged. We used to take our crops to them and they would tell us that they didn’t have money and refused to pay for weeks and months. Many of our members cut down their trees to burn charcoal.”
“But when Mr. Jeety came (in the rubber sector) he added value to us. He is an icon in the rubber industry for now. When everybody put a stop to buying rubber this December, Mr. Jeety bought all the rubber that was brought to him and it helped the economy.”
Johnson said that local rubber farmers were able to celebrate the festive season in a grand style as compared to others as a result of the move made by Jeety.
He further commended the Indian business tycoon for his “no credit” policy in doing business with the local farmers.
He pointed out that exclusive of payment made to local farmers; Mr. Sachdeva provides food, drinks and a hall for farmers to sit and charge their phones anytime they take their produce at his company to sell.
“We as small farmers, we will stand with you Mr. Jeety because, as long as you are in the rubber industry, Liberia will survive. We will always be with you and we will never let you down.”
