Our campaign has moved from Made-in-Aba to Make-in-Aba says Ikpeazu

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has revealed that Abia will soon become the hub of manufacturing in Africa, especially in Shoes and garments production. This was part of the fall outs of his engagements at the just concluded Governors Investment Forum held in China.

Speaking to newsmen at the periodic briefing of his administration, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed in the next six weeks by his administration with a Chinese Shoe Factory, Huajian Shoe Industry, will among other things attract a $1.5 billion shoe factory investment to Aba, which would in turn create about 20,000-30,000 direct and indirect jobs, as well improve the expertise of Abia shoe manufacturers.

The Governor further stated that the State's promotion campaign for made-in-Aba brands has now moved to make-in-Aba. In line with that, the government is opening its doors for innovators, business owners and manufacturers to come and invest in the state under a business friendly environment.

"We must open our space for people to come and invest in our state. Therefore, our campaign for made-in-Aba has now graduated to make-in-Aba. We are now calling people to come and make their products in Aba", Governor Ikpeazu said.

According to him, 65 to 70% of the output from the new shoe factory would be for export to meet already established market thereby indirectly promoting the Made in Aba Campaign.

The Governor also revealed that while in China he visited the company that produces the machines for automated shoe production in order to have a first hand knowledge of the production, packaging and handling processes. He said this is to enable Abia manufacturers acquire their own automated shoe production lines that will support improved output and global standardization.

He explained that the rationale behind the visit was to allow manufacturers access to the state, move the campaign of "Made in Aba" to "Make in Aba" and allow investors reside and make their products in the state, to create more employment opportunities for teeming qualified Abians, scale up the standard of shoe making in our environment and bring in new machines that will be manned by citizens of the state.

He expressed the readiness of the state to compete favourably with China, while noting that he desires that Abia becomes front runner in manufacturing and commerce in Africa.

The Governor called on Abians to brace up and be part of making things happen in the state by putting on their thinking cap.

In furtherance of his job creation efforts, Governor Ikpeazu announced that the State government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Skyrock company in the next 6 weeks in a bid to revitalize moribund industries in the state.