The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is this year expected to invest $4 million in a pineapple processing plant in Mwinilunga district in North Western Province.

IDC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mateyo Kaluba says this follows successful feasibility studies conducted in the area and subsequent approval by the IDC board of directors to invest into the pineapple sector.
Mr Kaluba says he is confident that the project is a viable business to invest in, having learnt from mistakes made in the past.

The three metric tonnes per day capacity plant will provide a ready market for the more than 3,000 farmers who will be incorporated in the initial outgrower scheme in Mwinilunga, Lumwana West and Ikelenge districts. The plant will result in the creation of 100 permanent jobs and 8, 000 indirect jobs.

Mr Kaluba was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on North – Western Province Permanent Secretary, Ephraim Mateyo in Solwezi.

This is contained in a statement issued to the media by IDC Public Relations Manager Namakau Mukelebai.