The plans to partner Aba shoe makers by a calabar-based firm, Golden Giants Industries Limited has been described as a timely intervention in the face of the current economic hardship rocking the country.
A Port Harcourt-based businessman, Chief Maxwell Mekaka-Wobo, said this at the weekend during an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
He said that the idea, upon actualisation, would boost the industrial and economic strength of the South-South region.
Mekaka-Wobo, noted that it was about time, the people considered how to tackle the ongoing economic crisis rather than apportioning blames to the government.
According to him, skills like shoe-making are fast fading away due to lack of interest to join the trade by the young generation.
He also pointed out that the move would help to sell the Aba-made shoes and other products to the international community, thereby providing more jobs for the people.
The business tycoon, who also is the Managing Director of Maxi Plaza and City Crown Hotels,  said the initiative would, among other things, access other raw materials needed for their business.
He further called on the firm not to play games with the plans, but to do the needful in order to take the project to the next level.
The hotelier also pointed out that opportunities may come their way, if they would execute the project accordingly.
On how to spread their tentacles, he said places like Port Harcourt would be ideal for similar projects, going by the level of security available in the place.
It would be recalled that the Deputy General Manager of the company, Mr David Ajayi, disclosed this to a section of the Aba shoe makers at made-in-Aba fair hosted by the pride of Aba, a group of leather manufacturers recently in Aba.
Meanwhile, he has charged the youths on the need to be self-reliant, saying that until such was done, they would still lack the will power to contract their activities.