MONROVIA – In exactly two hundred and twenty days (from December 15, 2018 to July 23, 2019), a 45.7-acre space once hosting only savanna grace, thorns, trees’ stumps, and animals’ excreta has been transformed into an ‘economically viable terrain’ with a gigantic grey multi-function factory surrounded by thick concrete slab.
The former day (December 15, 2018) was for ‘groundbreaking’. During this time the space was occupied by the following: Lines of Caterpillars and Tractors; Chinese ‘officials’ (of the company and of the Chinese Embassy in Liberia); dozens of Liberian workers (majority of them residents of the host community, hired by a Chinese construction company, CHICO,) all in red safety helmets and yellow-red vests; and a tiny grey remote-controlled ‘drone’ continually buzzing—‘fon…fon…fon’…—few meters above the human beings and machines.
At the ground-breaking ceremony, the company’s General Manager, Eric Chen, explained to interviewing journalists (including this writer): “The wood development company will be up by 2020, and will employ around 5,000 Liberians. We are here for 40 years, beginning from 2018.”
With Mr. Chen during the interview, the company’s Liberian Operations Managing, and translator, Mr. Nyema Klon Bruce, told the press people the kind of wood the company will be looking out for: “Old rubber wood can’t produce latex. We don’t need wood for fire coal (used by poor Liberians for cooking), we need wood for furniture.”
The company, registered as Shangyou Wood Development Industries Co., Ltd. In China—is located in Todee, Electoral Distrct #1, Montserrado County, which stretches into Morris’s Farm (a part of Kakata, Margibi County’s capital)
On July 23, 2019, Liberia’s President, George Manneh Weah, and his compatriots (small and great in social stature) toured a grey state-of-the-art facility (Saw Mill) of the Chinese company as part of a ‘Grand Opening’ ceremony on that day. The Saw Mill has three ‘operation sections’. Some of the machines on display were: 24 green wood-sprayers; three yellow-orange Multi-Rips (for slicing a wood into tiny pieces); two yellow ‘Treatment Plant’ or ‘Impregnation Tanks’ (for protection of woods from damage by termites); and five red Forklifts. Two six-foot ‘control rooms’ (being electrically powered by a Power House) were supplying current into the ‘cutting machines’. Piles of raw cut woods, of various sizes, were at various points of the floor.
Outside of the building, three yellow cranes and four blue trucks were stationed in front a twin one-story grey Staff Quarters.
“In less than two years, you have achieved this. I hope we will continue with this strive,” Head of State George Weah said to Shangyou Wood’s officials during the ribbon-cutting segment of the program.
Prior to the tour, there were heart-warming, as well as cautionary, speeches.
Shangyou Wood’s Chairman, Mr. Liu Hong, said the company has a total investment of 30 million (US) dollars, and will provide 450 jobs for Liberians, disclosed
“In the future, if the domestic situation and investment policies continue to improve, Shangyou….to…build a second and third Shangyou Factory in Liberia,” Mr. Hong added.
Liberia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, H.E. D. McKinley Thomas predicted a continual ‘washing off’ of acrimony on the Shangyou Wood-Liberian Government relations, alluding to the downpour of rain on the Grand Opening day.
The Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Liberia, H.E. Fu Jijun, reiterated his Country’s commitment to supporting Liberia, but expressed his concern: “Frankly speaking, as a good friend of Liberia, I will say that today’s Liberia is still not an ideal investment destination since its public service, such as electricity, water, transportation, skilled employee, social security, good governing, rule of law and so on are not as good as as quite a lot of African countries.”
Liberia’s National Investment Commission (NIC) Chairman, Hon. Molewuleh B. Gray, praised Shangyou Wood on “yielded result” from the company’s ‘registration request made to NIC.
Hon. Lawrence Morris, Representative of District # 1, Todee, Montserrado County, cautioned residents of his Constituency against posing ‘security threat’ to the Company’s assets.
The faces of Shangyou Wood Company’s Liberian employees—attired in red T-shirts inscribed with the company’s name at the front and back—showed undiluted enthusiasm from being ‘redeemed’ from Liberia’s ‘multitude’ of jobless people, who spend long working hours at ‘public talking points’ (Intellectual Centers) or watching European football matches.
I spoke with two of the Liberian employees, who identified themselves as Elijah P. Woekpeh and Sabastine Tokpah.
“My joy from finding a job at this Chinese Company, and being able to feed my family daily, has no bound,” Elijah said to me at on of the Multi-Rip machines where he had been assigned during the Opening program.
“I’m extremely grateful to Dr. George Weah’s Government and owners of Shangyou Wood Company for ending my long-time search for job,” Sabastine said.
Shangyou Wood Development Industries Co., Ltd. entered into Liberia in July, 2017, registered in March, 2018, and started construction in December, 2018.
This Chinese company has played its role—of providing jobs for Liberians—on the Liberia-China Friend. It’s now left with George Weah Government, and each succeeding one, to play its role: provide security for Shangyou Wood’s assets (on the ground and in the Bank) and its foreign staff.