The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) is set to launch her Nigerian Competitive Project in Aba, the SME capital of Nigeria with the garment and leather industries in Aba as its prime target.
A release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Barr. Onyebuchi Ememanka says, the project, which would last for an initial four years aims at strengthening the competitiveness of selected value chains in Nigeria and would be funded by the European Union and the German Government.
The release further informed that “the Director, Access to Finance of GIZ in Nigeria, Yakubu Paiko explained that the project would support those in finished leather and garment sectors to improve their entrepreneurial capacity to produce quality products at the right quantity”. The agency plans to expose the entrepreneurs to technology that would improve their productivity and quality as well as link them to global names in the industry to help expand their markets. Paiko equally stated that GIZ would explore various sources of finance that are available to enable the artisans in Aba access loans to enhance their capacities.
The agency which plans to reach about 25,000 businesses in Nigeria as a whole with Abia accounting for 5,000 out of that number would be hosting a stakeholders meeting this August, where they would discuss regulatory frameworks with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in attendance.