The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, has declared the year 2025 as that of maximum acceleration for sugar project development in the country.

A statement by the NSDC in Abuja recently said Bakrin met with representatives of Utham Sucrotech International from India, Niger Food Security Systems & Logistics Ltd and American West African Agro (AWAA).

The meeting explored the scope of activities of Utham in project development in view of the Greenfield project being established by AWAA in Niger State for which Utham will be providing services.

The NSDC boss assured the investors of adequate support geared towards accelerating the development of projects in Nigeria with emphasis on yield improvement in sugar estates.

He further requested to know the expectations in sugar recovery rate with respect to the activities of Utham at the Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR). He was assured of 12.3 per cent.

The company’s Global Business Development Leader, Mr. Sanjiv Gulati, made a presentation to the NSDC executive secretary on its activities, which include field and factory establishment of sugar projects across India, Europe and Africa.

He also spoke of Utham’s ability to fabricate equipment for sugar projects, adding that 13 per cent sugar recovery had been achieved by the company. He reinstated their capacity in managing sugar projects and assured the NSDC boss that Utham’s presence in Nigeria would boost sugar project development and the overall development of the subsector.

Mr. Flavio Castellari, a financial expert with Uttam, also gave an overview of the Brazilian Sugar industry and funding strategies that can be adopted in Nigeria.