The Leather Product Manufacturers Association of Abia State on Tuesday called on the state government to provide an industrial site and other facilities needed to boost their productivity.
The President of LEPMAS, Chigozie Uzoma, made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Aba, Abia State.
Uzoma said that the association needed an industrial site with expanded work floor to help them utilise some big machinery, which they received from donor agencies and partners.
He said: “We are asking for an industrial site because some of the machinery we were given by Growth and Employment in the States project cannot be put to use in these small shops we are in now.
“So, we need an expanded work floor with all-day-round electricity supply to power such machines.
“With such machines, our leather products will be made according to international standards and our productivity will increase because machines work faster than men.”
Uzoma said that with government’s assistance in these areas, the leather works sector in Abia State would grow and contribute substantially to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
The president said that LEPMAS should be provided with long term loans to enable them to boost their productivity.
He requested for reduction in interest rate on loans, adding that with the products coming off the production line at a cheaper rate, they would compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
Uzoma said that the sector, which could boast of about 15,600 registered members, would double its job output if given the necessary support.
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