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Aba CFC will produce N1.6 billion shoes by 2009 - Ugwu
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Minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Ugwuh, says the new Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Aba, Abia, is capable of producing shoes, worth N1.6 billion by January 2009.
Ugwuh made this known in Aba at the inauguration of the centre weekend.
He said experts had projected that the commencement of operation of the facility would bring about a 100 percent increase in the production of leather shoes by the end of the year.
According to the minister, during the pre-feasibility study carried out in 2002, it was estimated that the average value of shoes produced by one entrepreneur engaged in the leather sector in Aba would be N400 per day. He said the total value of the products was put at N36.9 million per day and N809 million per month, calculated at 22 working days.
“For the benefit of export trade, this translates to about $6.7 million worth of revenue from the leather sub-sector in Aba market alone,” he said.
According to the former president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), to surpass the projection, the centre had been equipped with modern facilities that would, within few years, positively impact on the production of quality shoes.
“Suffice it to say that the idealogical concept of the centre is in tandem with the driving philosophy of UNIDO, which focuses its development assistance on income generating activities,” he said.
Also speaking, Abia state governor, Theodore Orji, said the project was initiated in 2001 in collaboration with UNIDO, the World Bank, the federal and Abia governments.
He expressed the hope that the project would give the requisite training to entrepreneurs in leather manufacturing, to enable them upgrade their products to meet international standards.
“The multiplier effect will be favourable to all concerned and will contribute to skill development of the operators,” he said .
Orji pledged to work with both the federal government and international organisations to ensure that the state was developed industrially.
According to him, the government has been making efforts to revive some moribund industries, including International Glass Factory, Aba, Modern Ceramics Industry, Umuahia, and Golden Guinea Brewery, Umuahia.
The UNIDO country representative in Nigeria,
Masayoshi Matsushita, said the current director general of UNIDO, Kandeh Yumkella, initiated the project when he was the organisation’s country representative in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that products from the centre would be available for sale in all parts of the world in the not toodistant future.
“We want the products here, to go as far as Japanand China,” he stated, adding ”with efficient management, we will achieve the feat.’’
He pledged UNIDO’s support to plans to expand the project, adding that it would assist in the establishment of similar projects in other parts of the country.
About 32 leather manufacturers were trained on the use of the facility to achieve good finishing in shoes meant for export.
Ugwuh made this known in Aba at the inauguration of the centre weekend.
He said experts had projected that the commencement of operation of the facility would bring about a 100 percent increase in the production of leather shoes by the end of the year.
According to the minister, during the pre-feasibility study carried out in 2002, it was estimated that the average value of shoes produced by one entrepreneur engaged in the leather sector in Aba would be N400 per day. He said the total value of the products was put at N36.9 million per day and N809 million per month, calculated at 22 working days.
“For the benefit of export trade, this translates to about $6.7 million worth of revenue from the leather sub-sector in Aba market alone,” he said.
According to the former president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), to surpass the projection, the centre had been equipped with modern facilities that would, within few years, positively impact on the production of quality shoes.
“Suffice it to say that the idealogical concept of the centre is in tandem with the driving philosophy of UNIDO, which focuses its development assistance on income generating activities,” he said.
Also speaking, Abia state governor, Theodore Orji, said the project was initiated in 2001 in collaboration with UNIDO, the World Bank, the federal and Abia governments.
He expressed the hope that the project would give the requisite training to entrepreneurs in leather manufacturing, to enable them upgrade their products to meet international standards.
“The multiplier effect will be favourable to all concerned and will contribute to skill development of the operators,” he said .
Orji pledged to work with both the federal government and international organisations to ensure that the state was developed industrially.
According to him, the government has been making efforts to revive some moribund industries, including International Glass Factory, Aba, Modern Ceramics Industry, Umuahia, and Golden Guinea Brewery, Umuahia.
The UNIDO country representative in Nigeria,
Masayoshi Matsushita, said the current director general of UNIDO, Kandeh Yumkella, initiated the project when he was the organisation’s country representative in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that products from the centre would be available for sale in all parts of the world in the not toodistant future.
“We want the products here, to go as far as Japanand China,” he stated, adding ”with efficient management, we will achieve the feat.’’
He pledged UNIDO’s support to plans to expand the project, adding that it would assist in the establishment of similar projects in other parts of the country.
About 32 leather manufacturers were trained on the use of the facility to achieve good finishing in shoes meant for export.
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