Abia State Government has reaffirmed it’s commitment to partnering the European Union (EU) and other International Agencies to strengthen Local Industries in the State and drive sustainable economic growth.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem stated this in an interview with Newsmen after a facility tour of the Umuehilegbu Shoe Market in Aba, in accompany of the European Union delegation led by the EU Head of Corporations, Mr.Massimo De Luca.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem
Chief Inem emphasized that the Government is committed to supporting Local Industries with the support to enhance productivity and address their challenges including power, automation and standardization.
“Government is committed to giving the traders all the necessary support to make them produce better than they have produced and more engaged meaningfully”, Chief Inem stated.
He emphasized that the tour was aimed at assessing existing challenges, to enable Government and the EU identify areas for strategic intervention.
“The whole idea is to assess some of your deficiencies so that we will be able to optimize what you are doing here.
“We’ have seen the environment and the enthusiasm to showcase local talent.
“We have also seen your challenges, we are equally going to be interfacing with the traders to make sure that the environment is better than this so that you would produce better quality.
“Our next step is to collaborate with the Ministry and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agency to plot a support mechanism tailored to the needs of these businesses,” Inem added.
He urged traders in the market to be proud of their products as plans are underway to standardize the quality of locally produced goods in collaboration with the EU-team and other partners to ensure they meet international standards.
Also speaking, the EU Head of Cooperations, Mr Massimo De Luca, pledged extensive support to the traders to enhance their productivity, quality standards, and international competitiveness.
Mr. DeLuca highlighted the EU’s ongoing collaboration with international bodies such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the German Cooperation to support the leather sector, focusing on quality standards, value chains, and improved manufacturing practices.
He expressed admiration for the resilience and creativity displayed by the artisans and pledged that the EU would develop tailored programs that will directly support traders and artisans and integrate made in Aba products into Global Markets.
“I was very keen to be here actually, It’s dream come true because I’ve always heard about Abia, Aba shoes and leather.
“I do believe that the name of Abia is a name that deserves all the attention and all the respect worldwide.
“We believe in putting Abia first. This is what we need to fight for – to make Abia products renowned worldwide”, Mr De Luca emphasized.
The team which also included top Government Officials visited a Textile and Garment industry as well as the Geometric Power Limited Aba.
