By Hajaratu Kalokoh
The transport and logistics firm, Bollore, spent over Le2 billion in medical care for its employees this year alone, the company said.
The company said providing medical facilities for emoloyees is a part of its insurance scheme.
Bollore last week updated the press on the implementation of its expansion project within the last two years.
Memuna Drame Dolo, Chief Finance Officer of Bollore Transport and Logistics, explained that the company has a way of safeguarding the welfare of its workers, citing their insurance scheme and medical facilities for workers, their spouses and immediate dependents.
"Since 2014, we spent Le 2, 245, 689 on medical. For 2019 we have spent Le 2, 147, 686, 410 on medical," she said.
Bollore group started operation in Africa since 1927. In 2008, Bollore Africa logistics was established to consolidate the Bollore group infrastructure and logistic activities across the continent.
Owned by a renowned French port handler, Bollore Transport and Logistics, through a subordinate outfit called Freetown Terminal Limited, began operating in Sierra Leone in 2011 following the ratification of its initial 10 years concession which was stretched to an additional 10 years, with a 20 percent share allocated to the government of Sierra Leone.
The goal of Bollore Port is to raise the productivity of the port infastructure to the level of Africa's top port in the very short term.
In 2018, the company invested $120 million, which included the construction of a new 270 meters berth to accommodate bigger vessels, 6 megawatts power plant, two ship to shore cranes, four rubber tire gantry cranes and 166 reefer plugging facility in 2018.
Capt. Fabjanko Kokan, Country Manager of Bollore, said in the press briefing held at their Freetown headquarters located at the Queen Elizabeth ll Quay on Tuesday 17 September that since 2011 when they commenced the Sierra Leone operation, they have spent over US1million on human capital development in the country.
According to Kokan, this amount was spent on training over 35 Sierra Leoneans specializing in various fields.
"Sierra Leone has beneffited from this investment because it reduces the number of expatriates the company employs, as most management positions are now occupied by Sierra Leoneans," he said.
Kokan noted that he was in Japan recently where he discussed another project called the Sierra Tropical Investment, which costs between US$40- 50 million, a pine apple project that is expected to kick start in 2020, with the potential to employ between 3000 and 4000 people.
Bollore has progressed to processing from 30, 000 containers at the initial stage to 55, 000 containers a year at present.
© 2019 Politico Online
