Association calls for special cluster for tailors in Aba

Association of Tailors and Fashion Designers (ATFAD), an umbrella body of garment makers in Abia State, has appealed to the state government to provide land for the establishment of a garment cluster in Aba.

They ague that a cluster would facilitate a conducive environment for the sector, which is mainly made up of micro entrepreneurs.

Godwin Iheme, president, ATFAD, while inaugurating the executives of Aba South (Mosque branch) of the association, revealed that ATFAD had already applied for land and hoped that the state government would respond positively.

He commended the tailors for their camaraderie disposition and enjoined their leaders to ensure that they maintain the unity that currently existed among them for the good of the association.

Those elected to oversee the Aba South chapter are Kingsley Amaechi, president, Ndukwe Uchenna, Ogbonna Chigbu, secretary, Kalu Agbaeze, assistant secretary, Gilead Eke Chukwu, financial secretary, Orji Igwe, treasurer, Uche kachukwu, PRO, Mgbeuru Uche, chief provost, Emeka Okreke, second provost, and Ogbu Michael, third provost.

Meanwhile, Iheme, who is the managing director, ICI Garments Nigeria Limited, one of the leading garment makers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, has urged the Federal Government to ban importation of finished garment products into the country. He noted that locally made products, although superior to most imported labels, cannot compete favourably with imported finished clothing items due to cost of production.

According to him, for local producers to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts, electricity and other infrastructure must be put right and urged the Federal Government not to relent in its quest to achieve constant power supply in the country.

He stressed that epileptic power supply and multiple taxation were major challenges faced by the manufacturing sector and urged government to support the sector, which according to him, held the key to the industrial development of the country.

GODFREY OFURUM