May 9, 2017.
By Ijendu Iheaka
The Golden Giants Industries limited, a Calabar-based textile firm on Tuesday called for a collaboration between it and the shoe, leather and fabric makers for improved quality products.
Mr David Ajayi, the Deputy General Manager of company made the call in Aba during an interview with our reporter at a made-in-Aba fair hosted by the Pride of Aba group of leather manufacturers.
He said that partnering his company would help the Aba shoe, leather and garment industry to access raw materials needed for shoe production from the company at a cheap rate.
“Textile is embedded in the production of shoes so we want to partner with these our friends who are making us proud as shoemakers so that from us they can source some of their raw materials.
“And we want to give them the opportunity to benefit from us so that we can also benefit from them.
“We want to make them take advantage of where we are even what we do not have we can import it for them, that is why we are here.
“They need raw materials for their production and what we produce is useful to them as raw material which they are currently sourcing from overseas,” he said.
”Ajayi stated that ”it is better for them to source from within Nigeria than overseas.”
He said that beyond sourcing their raw materials from his company, the Aba manufacturers could use the facilities of the company to import other raw materials and export their products.
He said that the manufacturers could save cost using the Export Processing Zone facility which was duty free to import or export their products especially when they produced within the Calabar EPZ.
“What I am telling them today is that we should cooperate with each other so that we can work together to raise the glory of this nation from being even Third World to a first world nation.
“The Chinese are dominating now. We want these people to reclaim what the Chinese are taking away and to move to dominate them as well,” he said.
Dr Obinna Nwaogwugwu, South East Director, Nigerian Youth Chamber of Commerce said that they were at the fair to enlighten the entrepreneurs on how to export their products and raise business funds.
According to him, would-be Nigerian entrepreneurs have problems with raising business funds because of ignorance of how to go about it.
“One of their major challenges is having a good business idea. The issue is that once you have a good business idea, there are people even within Aba here who are willing to support your business.
“But the key issue with some of these business people is that they go to people beggarly.
”They don’t present real proposals that would enable them get the funding they want from these would be sponsors,” Nwaogwugwu said.
He urged prospective entrepreneurs to register their businesses with relevant agencies and bodies to enable them access funding and help from government agencies and individuals to develop their businesses.
Nwaogwugwu said that since January 2017 until now the chamber’s entrepreneurship clinic had been going on and urged residents to use the opportunity to advance their business plans.
Mr Amaobi Nwanaago, the President, Stand Up Africa Multi-purpose cooperative Society, Aba North said they organised the fair to encourage footwear and garment makers.
He said that by coming together and showcasing their latest products, the fair has the ability to foster a healthy competition among its membership.
No comments:
Post a Comment