Lesotho Minister of Industry, Trade and Marketing, Mpho Malie says, the Industrial Park Project to be constructed in Butha-Buthe district will help create jobs and fight poverty.  Malie made these remarks a the sod turning ceremony at the industrial park site in the Butha-Buthe district, Wednesday, May 22.  He noted that, small business-people should make use of the industrial park to upgrade the standard of their businesses; saying, "small business people should work hard to run their businesses in a way that will improve the economy of the district so that many jobs would be created".

Minister Malie further said, Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) will provide courses in business management, bookkeeping, marketing and selling skills, business planning techniques as well as in costing and pricing, to enable small business people to run their business in a professional way that will keep them sustainable.

Malie said, the industrial park project should not benefit 'only' people living in the Butha-Buthe town, but everyone from all parts of the district.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Lesotho, Mr. Zhang Xianyi said, the industrial park will contribute towards poverty reduction and the small business people will use it to carry out their duties.  He said it is policy of the People's Republic of China to support their African fellows so that they be self-sufficient.  Ambassador Zhang Xianyi expressed hope that, the industrial park succeeds, possible if relevant people work hard towards empowering small business people, to enable the latter manage their businesses efficiently.

In an interview, one of the business people in the area said, they are happy as they now have a place suitable to run their businesses; adding that, they would appreciate it if people are allocated places without any kind of discrimination.

This industrial park of M4.768 square metres is going to include, wood and medal work, garment processing workshops, commercial retail shops, business and administration offices.
Expectations are that, the 'building-up' of the project be completed in 10 months.