A Century of Mehta Group: Sustaining Manufacturing and Agricultural Growth
World Business Journal talks to Mahendra N. Mehta, Chairman of Mehta Group, about the initiatives the company has been working on, the important milestone achieved last year of 100 years of operation at the sugar factory, the proposed cable import ban on manufacturing operations, and observations on climate change patterns.
Is there any information you could share about the land development project in Nakaseke or other significant initiatives the company has been working on?
We have already initiated the development phase and expect to see results for our agricultural products; the sugarcane supply has already started from Nakaseke. For other agriculture projects, feasibility studies are going on, which will be completed in the next few months by November 2025. Our commitment to upgrading and modernising our operations continues, as we reinvest annually across all our businesses.
Last year marked a significant milestone as we celebrated 100 years of operating the first sugar factory in Uganda, which now supports 9,000 employees and their 36,000 dependents.
During this celebration, His Excellency President Museveni honoured us with his presence. He inaugurated our new 30-megawatt power generation plant and visited our cable business line, underscoring our continuous efforts in expanding and improving our infrastructure.
How will the government’s cable import ban affect your manufacturing operations, and why do you think consumers have preferred imports over local products?
There is currently no indication of when, if ever, duty-free imports of cables and conductors will be stopped.
Cables from India and China are cheaper when they are imported duty-free, as both countries benefit from lower costs and subsidies. Uganda today has to import every raw material for the manufacture of cables and conductors, resulting in higher input costs, as well as higher production costs due to lower volumes.
How has climate change affected sugarcane crops, and are there any observable shifts in growth patterns or production?
We’ve observed shifts in rainfall patterns, but it’s too soon to grasp their full impact. Although it’s slightly warmer, sugarcane growth hasn’t suffered. Increased rainfall with warmer temperatures might even benefit cultivation. We’ll keep monitoring these conditions to evaluate their long-term effects.
