Leading steel and iron manufacturing company B5 Plus Limited has been recognized for its leading role in the construction industry of Ghana.
The company, last week, added to its collection, four more awards with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of B5 Plus Limited who doubles as Director of Delhi Public School International (DPSI) Ghana, Mukesh Thakwani, being named the Outstanding Business Leader of the Year at the 2019 Ghana Business Standard Awards.
B5 Plus Limited also won the Non-Traditional Exporter of the Year and Dry Bulk Exporter of the Year Awards at the recently held Ghana Shippers Awards.
The Captain 1 Golf Society also recognized B5 Plus Limited for its impactful contribution to the activities of the group.
Mr Thakwani commenting on the awards expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the workers and customers of B5 Plus Limited without whom he said the company would not have achieved so much in the last 20 years of its establishment.
“For my customers and workers, I will like to say a big thank you.
Without you we could not have come this far and achieved what we have achieved,” he said. “It puts us on our toes to do more and do better and we dedicate this award to our workers who are working hard and to our customers.”
Touching on what the Outstanding Leader in Business Award in the manufacturing industry means to B5 Plus Limited, Mr Thakwani said, “that shows that we believe in Ghana, we believe in manufacturing and we believe in made in Ghana Goods.”
He said two decades ago, Ghana imported construction materials from neighbouring countries but, “today we have become the net manufacturer not only for home consumption but we can export to other West African countries. This shows the confidence in Ghana’s economy.”
The CEO of B5 Plus further called for the government to put in place the necessary measures to address the challenges that come with a fast-growing economy like that of Ghana’s.
Mr Thakwani said as Ghana becomes self-sufficient government needs to look at ways to secure the market for local producers either through increasing taxes on imported goods or banning the importation of such materials.
He also urged the government to review the high utility tariffs for manufacturing companies like B5 Plus Limited.
Projections
In the short term, Mr Thakwani said B5 Plus Limited is in the process of constructing the biggest steel fabricating plant under government’s 1D1F flagship programme.
When completed, the mega factory will have the capacity to serve the Ghana & West African sub-region with the production of various steel products.
“With that project in a couple of months we will be able to make Ghana home to the construction industry,” he said.
Jobs
Mr Thakwani said over 5000 people will gain employment directly and indirectly with the opening of the fabricating plant in a few months.
“Approximately, 5000 people will be getting jobs. Right now, we have 1200 people directly working at this site and indirectly 1000 plus people working so with this new factory coming we will be having more than 5000 people getting jobs and that is a huge employment generation,” he added.
He reassured customers of B5 Plus Limited of the company’s commitment to keeping on delivering good quality products at competitive rates to their doorstep.
About B5 Plus
B5 Plus Ghana Limited was established nearly 20 years ago with its corporate headquarters at Kpone near Tema. It was initially importing steel and iron from Cote d’ Ivoire and South Africa but has grown to the stage where it now exports to other countries.
B5 Plus Limited operates in all the 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nations.
The company’s principal product is steel products which come in seven major categories: Mild Steel, High Tensile & Iron Rods, Galvanized Products, Stainless Steel, Marine & Mining, Roofing & Nails and Concrete & Fencing.
Its vision is to become the world’s steel industry benchmark through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct.
