Mittal Steel Builds Hope In Hopeless Liberians, After signing US$900 Million Agreement

The hopelessness of jobless Liberians is said to be over, following recent acceptance by the Liberian Government to allow the world’s largest steel company to operate in Liberia after years of study.
According to our reporter in Liberia who just returned from Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties, specifically Yerkepa and Buchanan disclosed the high momentum is being built among Liberians in that part of the country, especially the commencement of Mittal’s activities in their areas.
“There hopelessness for jobs has ended, as those spoken to have all expressed happiness about the giant step taken by the Liberian Government to approve Mittal Steel contract,” our reporter in a jolly mood said.
Apart from employing thousands of Liberians in its operational areas, according to report Mittal Steel has also promised to provide to local administration on a yearly basis one million United States dollars to help ease difficulties being faced in the development of their infrastructures.
Some residents in areas visited y the GNN also praised the Liberian Government for allowing Mittal Steel to start operation in their area, “ we are indeed grateful for the operation of Mittal Steel in our county. Its presence will create jobs for our husbands and children,” a mother of six children in a happy mood said.
Recently the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf speaking on a local radio expressed optimism that the Mittal Steel agreement would yield significant progress for Liberia outlining some of the many benefits that the nation stands to reap from the company's operation.
She said one of the most important things about the Mittal Steel agreement is that it will provide lots of jobs for the Liberian people, she said once the company starts to operate in the country they will commence the construction of roads, the building of houses, the rehabilitation of the seaports and railways among others.
The Liberian leader said under the current agreement, the seaports and railways, which were placed under the supervision of Mittal Steel when the agreement was previously negotiated and signed, have now been placed under the control of the government.
The President expressed surprise why these facilities were placed under the control of the company when the agreement was negotiated under the tenure of the former transitional government, wondering why former officials of government had to sign such an agreement.
She said her government would ensure that the company functions under the laws of the country, stressing that under the current agreement, Liberians will get scholarships and benefit from training opportunities.

PROFILE OF LAKSHMI MITTAL, THE WORLD 3rd-RICHEST MAN

The Indian-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal became the third richest person in the world, trailing only Microsoft chief Bill Gates and US investment guru Warren Buffett.
London-based Mittal boosted his fortune after quadrupling his net worth by $18.8 billion to $25 billion.
Mittal climbed 59 steps from last year to number three in 2005. The rich had a very good year. The collective net worth of the 691 billionaires Forbes found is $2.2 trillion, up $300 billion from the combined worth of the 587 people listed last year.