Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has restated the commitment of his administration to support business growth and development.
Describing Abia as an investment friendly state, Otti said his Government had in the last 10 months, worked towards growing businesses and attracting new ones into the state.
Otti spoke when he received in audience, the Managing Director and Management team of the Inner Galaxy Steel Company Limited, a Chinese conglomerate operating in the Ukwa-West axis of Abia State.
“It is our policy to support industries. Some of the things we are doing are geared towards supporting existing industries and attracting new ones.
“I encourage you to continue to do business in Abia State because we are investment friendly. We have just set up the Abia Industrial Innovation Park (AIIP) in Owaza.
“If there are some collaborations, since you are already in Ukwa West, we will tell the Managing Director of the AIIP to engage with you. It is only when investments grow that businesses can employ the teeming unemployed Abia youths.”
He charged the company on fair labour practices as a way of attracting government’s continued support, while allaying their fears of clamping down on them following allegations of not providing conducive working environment for their workers.
The Governor encouraged the company to collaborate with the management of the Abia Industrial Innovation Park so as to take advantage of the opportunities provided in the area.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Lin Shanbiao, explained that Inner Galaxy is a conglomerate of four companies that are into steel production, trailer parts assembly, battery production for automobiles and recycling of used bottles.
He said their visit was to intimate the Governor about their activities and to see how to partner the state government in various ways. He said the company was facing labour shortages and encouraged interested Abia youths to come forward and take up jobs in the organisation.
