The Indian businessman and philanthropist, Upjit Singh Sachdeva alias Jeety, has begun receiving heaps of commendations from the diplomatic cycles for adding economic empowerment for locals with his investment ventures in Liberia.
Among the recognition was the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Catherine Rodriguez, who spoke highly of Jeety following her tour at his over US$40 million rubber factory processing investment in Weala, Margibi County.
She then praised Jeety saying it is economic development and empowerment that will provide opportunity for growth in Liberia.
The US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires emphasized that one of the things that the US Government through her embassies advocates for is economic development and that it is one of the things that will push Liberia out of its current state and into the next level of prosperity.
“I know Liberia has benefited from foreign assistance for many years, but it’s through economic development that will provide opportunities,” Ms. Rodriguez said.
She then said, “Jeety, you have an enviable level of fan based here. I listened to all of the people who spoke here today; it is obvious that your factory here is providing economic opportunities beyond people who worked here to people all in the communities. People are benefitting from the food that you are providing, from the additional money that your employees have to pay school fees, to buy new clothes, etc. Your money here, your investment here, your vision here is something to be admired.”
The US diplomat made her audience applauded Jeety for all that he is doing in their communities. “As I said there are many business ventures in Liberia, but it is people like you who will ensure that there is hope, that there is opportunity and that Liberia can be a powerhouse, economically,” Ms. Rodriguez said.
She applauded all the rubber farmers who are selling to Jeety and other buyers and told the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) through its leadership and small rubber farms’ farmers that she looks forward to working with all of them, “to make sure that farmers continue selling but more importantly that farmer continue to make money.”
The US Diplomat emphasized that every country needs farmers: adding: “Farmers are the backbones of any country.”
She thanked the locals for the warmed reception she and her entourage received when they arrived at the entrance of the Jeety Rubber Factory in Weala.
She was received traditionally with country rice and kola nuts and was handed a bouquet of flowers. Responding, Jeety vowed that with the support of the people, including farmers, he will do what he had said that he will do at his rubber factory.
He stated that at the moment, he is not receiving the quantity of rubber that his factory requires to operate at its maximum.
According to him, he needs 225 tons of raw rubber daily. “In the month of May 2024, I received 2,312 tons of rubber; in April 1,476 tons; in March 1,722 tons; in February 2,494.65 tons and in January 2,696 tons,” he disclosed adding: “because there are lots of challenges, which I am not going to speak to now.”
He told Ms. Rodriguez that he had promised her predecessor, Ambassador Michael McCarthy, that he was going have a rubber factory in Liberia. He said he and Amb. McCarthy had spoken in 2021.
According to him, the former US Ambassador to Liberia had told him that his vision was a very big ambition and that it would have been impossible to achieve it in short space a time taking into considerations how some things happen in Liberia.
Before Amb. McCarthy’s tour of duty ended in July 2023, he paid Jeety a visit at the factory in June 2023 and was shocked with the level of investment he saw.
“And, whatever I promised him that time, I achieved. Today, I promise you that if the farming community, if the government just give me the raw materials, I will make the first rubber glove in the country; I will make the first made-in-Liberia tire in the country,” Mr. Jeety assured Chargé d’Affaire Rodriguez as he received rounds of applauds from the farmers and locals.
He used the occasion to call on the Liberian Government to fix the purchasing price of the rubber from the small farmers.
He disclosed that he supports the price that the RPAL has proposed proposing, “Let the government fix the price as it is in Ivory Coast. The price difference between Ivory Coast and Liberia is just a couple of dollars that is because processing cost is cheaper in Ivory Coast.”
The Indian businessman added, “It is because, there is no need for investors to provide their own electricity, build road; there is no need to build school. These things come with costs.”
This he said apparently because of the many social amenities he has provided for the locals, including building a modern health facility, providing pipe-borne drinking water kiosks for various communities in Weala, constantly making the road pliable, ete.
