Abia state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said he is working to create a conducive environment for new investments and bringing back investments that had left the state in the past.
Otti stated this while receiving a delegation of investors from the USA, China and Brazil led by the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Comfort Stevens, Dr John Nwankwo who came to introduce to him their large-scale industrial footwear project which is to be commissioned in Owerri-Nta in Isiala Ngwa south council, by December 2024.
Otti, who assured that his government would support the company in realizing its objectives of completing its footwear production company in Owerri-nta, said he will always align with projects to meet his agenda of providing job opportunities for the unemployed Abia populace.
He said;”I want to congratulate you for not giving up and I’m happy that you have gotten to this level that you are hopeful of commissioning by December.
“If there’s anything we can do to support you to make that December a reality, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
While underscoring the importance of local manufacturing, Otti noted that no country has ever developed on the back of consumption of imported products without production.
He disclosed that one of the major things his government is doing is to attract new investors through favourable policies, stressing that supporting the Geometric power company to come on stream and the dualization of the Imo River-Umuikaa-Umuene road are all geared towards the industrialization of the state.
The Governor expressed joy that one of the company’s plans is to train and up-skill existing local shoe manufacturers in Aba and promised the readiness of the administration to partner with the company.
“The major problem a lot of them have is finishing. Lots of them are impatient, a lot of them don’t have the right tools, a lot of them don’t have the right skills so it would be interesting if you have Comfort Stevens double as not just products but also as a training and finishing school for our young ones because there are a lot of them.
“Go to shoe plaza and see what the young men and women are doing there with bare hands you’ll understand that if you introduce them to technology, they will give much more.”
Earlier in his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of Comfort Stevens, Dr. John Nwankwo, who said they are setting up a 15,000 daily footwear production capacity factory in Owerri-nta, announced that the factory would be ready for commissioning in December 2024
He said that the mission of the company with its partners from US, China and Brazil is to produce quality footwear that can compete favourably in the global market,stressing that machines for the production of quality footwear and its components have arrived at its site in Owerri-nta for installation by next month.
Nwankwo commended the Governor for the progress that has taken place under his watch, as well as his sincerity of purpose and passion towards the industrialization of the state.
