Japanese recycling company to train African firms

ONE of Japan's leading companies producing fuel from recycling plastics and other waste material says it is ready to provide technical assistance to African companies interested in the business.

Guun company limited chief executive officer Shinji Fujieda yesterday told the media in Yokohama that African industries stood a better chance to benefit from such innovations which did not only contribute to their business growth, but also played a key role in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr. Fujieda said the recycling of waste material played an integral part in employment creation and that while his company was not considering opening up its tentacles in places such as Africa, in its short term plans, it was ready to offer technical services through training to companies intending to venture into the same business.

He said waste management through interventions such as recycling of waste into new products such as fuel was key to the development of African industries.

"Management of waste through recycling to produce new products is key to the development of African industries and we are ready to offer technical support such as training to those companies interested in waste management," Mr. Fujieda said.

He said plastics posed a great challenge especially around oceans but at the same time lay an opportunity for residents to produce other products through prudent waste management reuse.

Guus Company Limited was established in 2001 with startup capital of 8,500 Yens but now boasts of a workforce of over 60 employees at its Headquarters in Yokohama alone and has branches spread as far as the Philippines.

With a drive to actualise the SDGs, the company is involved in activities pointing towards the attainment of up to 10 of these goals.