Imo state government has an automated shoe factory at Owerri. That factory is in direct competition with Aba shoe makers and Imo publicly took things to the next level when they attempted to poach 5000 Imo born shoe makers from Aba to Owerri. Nothing patently wrong with that.
As at last year I had video clips of the Owerri factory and will share it here later. But you can read about it via http://www.imostateblog.com/2014/03/01/imo-state-government-to-relocate-5000-shoemakers-from-aba-to-owerri/
I personally will not recommend Abia State government owning any portion of the Chinese venture instead let individuals who are interested invest alongside the Chinese if they are willing to sell shares. Government should completely hands off manufacturing ventures and concentrate on providing enabling environment for private sector organizations and individuals to do business like business people.
If any new equipment has been negotiated or identified for Aba shoe makers, let them organize into a cooperative society or use their association as vehicle to source for funds from banks and other lending agencies and pay for the equipment they need to make more profit. It is my view that government should not fund the procurement unless there is a recovery plan that is foolproof to pay back within 2 years maximum.
Abia and Aba needs that Chinese shoe factory now. If an individual like me decides to go to China and bring that shoe factory to Aba the government will not stop me because it is a matter of constitutional right. My factory with mixed Chinese and Abia workforce will still compete with Aba shoe makers. There is no regulation against that in Nigeria. If such regulation shows up in Abia I will likely move to the border of Aba and Akwa Ibom or Rivers and set up the plant to compete with Aba shoe makers.
Aba actually imports Chinese made shoes too. How about we produce those shoes at Aba and they become Made in Aba too? We will conserve forex, create jobs, introduce modern manufacturing technology and still have our locals competing through new technology assimilation and replication.
At some point we even have to move from Made in Aba to Make in Aba. I suspect that time is NOW.
How many folks know the Chinese connection of Innoson motors that we now see as made in Nigeria?
I am totally for the new shoe factory at Aba alongside the perks negotiated by the Governor, as published by Sam Hart. Nobody makes quantum leaps with fear of the unknown and there are enough collateral benefits to recommend the immediate coming of the Chinese shoe factory, including potential spike in industry at Aba, jobs and tax revenue.
JOK
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