FG pledges support for local manufacturers

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry Dr Okechukwu Enelamah yesterday in Nnewi said that there is no way the Federal Government will achieve all its plans on the economy and industrialization without working with industries in Nnewi and other parts of the country.

He said steps are being taken to address power problem which is the greatest problem to industrialists in Nnewi, adding everything possible  is being done to ensure that the industries in Nnewi continues to contribute to the Development of the country and employing Nigerians.

Speaking after the tour of Chicason Group of Companies, Innoson Motor Vehicles and Ibeto Group all in Nnewi, the Minister said “Nnewi is famous for entrepreneurship, industry, creativity and productivity of the people, but I do not think that I am exaggerating if I say that Chicason exemplifies that.”

“Chicason epitomizes industry in every sense, both in the sense of being able to produce things, and also in terms of entrepreneurship and creativity, you know we are going through a fairly challenging times and the most important things are people being able to fill the gap and I think he is doing a lot want.

“So I think we must do everything to encourage him and others, both as government and a community, he employs more than 5000 people , if you look at what we are trying to achieve, as a government there is no way we can do it without working with industries like Chicason in terms of job creation, industrialization employment and diversification.

  "We are encouraging Nigerians to consume locally produced goods and Innoson is already producing motor vehicle, the ideal thing is to give him all the needed support to thrive and that is what this administration would do.

 "The Ibeto Group is a leading name in manufacturing, it is really a thing of joy for me to see these giant manufacturing industries, I planned to come here last year but could not make it. I am happy am here now, we will certainly support these manufacturers.


Nnewi is as deserving in terms of power supply as any other community that has industry, and the industrial power has come to the fore front of the governments agenda, so all I can assure is that you will see results, because the industrial power is not just to serve everybody, but also to serve industries which is something the government is giving priority and you will see the result.

Meanwhile, speaking on the problem he is facing as an industrialist, Chairman of Chicason Group of Companies, Chief Chika Okafor while speaking on the challenges confronting industrialists  said the number one problem they are facing is that of foreign exchange,based on the fact that many of them import raw materials and problem of poor power supply as well as investable funds .

He noted that the governor of Anambra State has solved the problem of security and road infrastructure, we are now going into agriculture, for palm plantation and we want to cultivate about 25000 acres of land for palm plantation and the project will take over N50 billion naira and create over 10,000 jobs by the time we are through.

"We are not employing any longer because things are very difficult, as a matter of fact i have over 1580 staff on my table already sent for my approval for retrenchment but i do not have the courage to do that because they are my people, and some are from my village, so if I retrench them I have to go back and start taking care of their families, we hope the government will come to our rescue..
      
 Photo:  Chairman, CEO Chikason Group, Dr Chika Okafor and Minister of Industries,Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah briefing the press after inspection tour of Chikason Group yesterday. Pix by Isaac Ojo