The Ministry of Trade and Industry has issued a directive, halting the issuance of permits for the establishment of new factories dedicated to the manufacturing and bagging of Portland cement.

This directive, which came into effect on September 13, 2023, was communicated through an official statement signed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, KT Hammond.

The statement underlined a complete suspension of all processes involved in granting permits for such ventures, leaving them in abeyance until further notice.

Moreover, the ministry has instructed all relevant regulatory bodies to ensure strict adherence to this directive within the industry.

However, the statement did not provide specific reasons or details behind this sudden and significant decision, leaving both the industry and the public in anticipation of further clarifications.