Imo To Relocate 5,000 Shoemakers

The Imo State Govern
ment says it has commenced plans to relocate 5,000 Imo shoemakers resident in Aba, Abia State, to Owerri to run the state-owned shoe industry.
The Commissioner for Industry and Non-Formal Sector, Mrs Ugochi Okoro, announced this at a media briefing in Owerri recently.
Okoro said the arrangement would encourage locally-made good as well as boost the economy of the state.
According to her, all products made in the state must be labeled “Made-in-Imo’’.
She said government had acquired modern equipment to run the Standard Shoe Industry owned by the state.
The commissioner said the industry had been producing sandals used by primary school pupils in the state.
She said that due to the numerous projects being executed by the present government, it was not possible for the government to establish more industries.
Okoro said that some of the moribund government-owned industries would be reactivated and leased out to the private sector.
She urged the Federal Government to establish industries in the state in order to create employment for the youth.
The commissioner said government had concluded plans to reopen the Avutu Poultry as well as relocate artisans in the state to a permanent site to reduce street trading.