By CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI—The long abandoned Nsu Ceramic Tiles Industry will soon be revived, following fruitful negotiations between Imo State government and a foreign partner to this effect.

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Christopher Eze, disclosed this when he played host to a high powered delegation of the leadership of Chartered Institute of Nigeria, CICON, in his office.

He said: “The Nsu Ceramic Tiles Industry built by the Sam Mbakwe administration but sadly abandoned by subsequent administrations in the state, will soon come back to life. Government is already talking with a foreign partner to revive it,” the commissioner said.

He also revealed that UNIDO was supporting government in the planned establishment of a medium scale industry in all the 27 local council areas of the state.

“In its committed agenda to improve the economic environment, as well as better the welfare of Imo citizens, government has only yesterday, given out N2 billion to small holder farmers in the state.”

The commissioner said the government established an Industrial Cluster for artisans, as well as a Technological Industrial Incubation Centre at Naze, adding that the idea was to enable the artisans do things at a cheaper rate.

Urging members of the institute to build their proposed “Commerce Plaza” in Owerri, Dr. Eze also assured the delegation that government would not only provide land for the project but also assist them realize it.

Earlier in his address, the trustee of CICON, Eze Dele Odigbo, said the Executive Council of the establishment had considered building a N330 million Commerce Plaza as a symbol of commerce in Nigeria.