Chinese coy to invest $1.5b shoe factory in Aba

With interest in establishing $1.5b factory in Aba, the management of Chinese Huajian Shoe Factory, Guangdong, China has apid paid a site visit to Abia state to ascertain the level of preparedness of the state to host its planned massive investment.
This was barely one week after the Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, returned from China having discussed with that country’s company which indicated interest of investing in the state.

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 the state to quickly deliver on the deal.

While describing Abia as a beautiful and calm environment where business can thrive, Huarong said: “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.”

His desire, he said, was not only to be part of the technological development of Abia State and Nigeria but to also share in its mining industry and commerce, 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.

Expressing his happiness over the visit, Governor Ikpeazu who hosted the visiting team at a Chinese owned steel factory in Ukwa West area of the state 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 for partnering the state so far.

Ikpeazu 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 is obvious that Chinese investors are already at home with Abia State in terms of huge investment.

“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”, the governor said, stating that the visit shows that Mr Huarong and his team mean business, adding “the first batch of Aba shoe makers will depart Abia for China in the next one week, for training.”

Ikpeazu insisted that the best way to develop Nigeria is to adopt the Chinese model of public private partnership for rapid industrialization, stating that he shares the vision of the Chinese Shoe investor whose mission is to ensure employment generation and described him as a potential development partner.

He assured the Chinese team of government support to actualize the factory through incentives and accelerated certification, emphasizing 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.