Ikpeazu welcomes $1.5b Chinese Shoe Investor

by Enyinnaya Appolos
Barely one week after Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State returned from China with the news of a Chinese investor who has indicated interest in establishing $1.5b factory in Aba, the management of Huajian Shoe Factory Guangdong China have paid a site visit to Abia to ascertain the level of preparedness of the state to host the planned massive investment.
The Chairman of the Company, Zhang Huarong, said the essence of the visit was to seal the deal which started during the Governor’s visit to his Shoe factory in China and to express his readiness to partner with Abia State to quickly deliver on the deal.
He described Abia as a beautiful and calm environment where business can thrive.
According to Huarong, “China has enjoyed a robust relationship with Nigeria and having a factory in Abia would build on the relationship as well as help accelerate the industrialization drive of the Governor”.
Huarong said he desires to not only be part of the technological development of Abia State and Nigeria but to also share in its mining industry and commerce.
While describing Nigeria as an open market, he explained that the planned investment will project Abia state to the world, noting that Nigeria would be a major trade centre in the next 20 years as he sees a good future for the company in Abia State.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who hosted the visiting team at a Chinese owned Steel factory in Ukwa West area of Abia state was elated at the visit and thanked the host factory, Inner Galaxy, which deals on recycling of metals for other products including roofing sheets and iron, metal car parts fabrication among other things.
He said he choose the venue to show the Chinese team that some of their brother investors were already on ground in Abia and expressed delight at the level of infrastructure in the company while also applauding the employment of many Abians at the factory.
“With what Inner Galaxy is already doing in steel fabrics and manufacturing, it obvious that Chinese investors are already at home with Abia State interns of huge investments.
The coming of Zhang Huarong and his team will boast the Aba leather and garment industry. We welcome them with our heart to come and invest and make in Aba. We also encourage our people the see their coming as health competition. I have no doubt that our people in Aba will take advantage of their coming and competition is will provide to improve on what we are already doing. Our target is the conquer he African leather and garment market. I am happy that the Chinese investors are responding to our request for them to come and invest in our state and make their products in Aba.”
According to Governor Ikpeazu, the visit shows that Mr Huarong and his team mean business.
He added that “the first batch of Aba show markers will depart Abia for China in the next one week, for training.”
He insisted that the best way to develop Nigeria is to adopt the Chinese model of public private partnership for rapid industrialization.
He said he shares the vision of the Chinese Shoe investor whose mission is to ensure employment generation and described him as a potential development partner.
The Governor assured the Chinese team of government support to actualize the factory through incentives and accelerated certification.
The Governor emphasized that Abia State is a fertile ground for businesses to thrive and invited local and foreign investors to look towards Abia to make their products and sell their services under a business friendly environment.
It will be recalled that Governor Ikpeazu brokered the $1.5B project for the establishment of a Shoe Industry in Aba with Huajian Shoe Industry in Dongguan, Guangzhou, during his last visit to China.