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| His Excellency, Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria (Middle), flanked by Chief Matthew Uwaekwe, National Coordinator/CEO, Nigeria-China Business Council, NCBC (far r); High Chief Xie Shao, Group Chairman, SKYRUN International Group (Right) |
|12 December, 2017| Ifere Paul.
Skyrun is a company belonging to Jiangsu Skyrun International Group of companies. Located on a sprawling landmass at the Jiangsu industrial zone, the company produces cheap consumer electronics for Chinese middle class, and low income families.
Skyrun Electronic Company has no experience in international businesses. And its manufacturing products were entirely consumed in China and other Asian countries. In 2005, the Chinese government developed a policy and backed it up with functional provisions to enhance new technological companies to explore opportunities abroad. It was at this point the Tinapa Resort and the Calabar Free Trade Zone were constantly on the news.
A group of Chinese investors visited the then President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek investment opportunities in the country. One Adolphus Chima from Rivers State led the delegation to Nigeria.
In 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo led a delegation of Nigerian business men and women, and ministers to China were he told then Chinese President Hu Jintao that his visit was for economic cooperation and technological transfers. Trade and economic agreements were signed, and Obasanjo visited Jiangsu Skyrun operation headquarters were he single handedly invited the company to Nigeria.
In April 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao made a visit to Nigeria were companies like Skyrun CEO, China Electric CEO, China-Sinopec CEO, and host of others followed. Sinopec got three oil bloc licenses from that visit. Skyrun Electronics got the go ahead and approval to start operations in Calabar Free Trade Zone in 2006, towards the commissioning of Tinapa.
Sinopec will later buy off Canada's Adax Petroleum operation fields in Calabar and Bonny. In 2007, Sinopec Conglomerate bought over Adax International Holdings in a deal that shuck the world.
For Skyrun, entrance into the Nigerian business environment was hazy. So, they team up with two other companies with credible operational experience inside Nigeria. China Jiangsu International Group, China Golden Gate Group of Companies, and Shinco Air Conditioner Manufacturing Company all came together to form the Skyrun Electronic Company Nigeria Limited, located at Calabar Free Trade Zone, in Cross River State.
Between 2006 and 2010 when Skyrun first rolled out its first TV sets and Fridges, the global economic recession in China between 2008 to 2011, saw Skyrun operations Calabar suffer a slow rise. By the end of 2013 when China global outlook looked good, Skyrun had so much support from China Import and Export Bank.
Today, Skyrun has dominated the Nigerian market with its relative cost effective and good standard quality for home appliances and electronics. Skyrun has over 500 thousand workers at the Calabar Free Trade Zone in Cross River State. 210 of these workers are permanent staff, while the other are casual technicians that are called for during peak periods and tight order delivery.
Presently, Skyrun manufactures for countries like Cameroun, Niger, Ghana, Benin, Guinea, etc. Export link roads include South Africa and Madagascar.
Skyrun invited former President Obasanjo to commission its Deep Freezer section yesterday, the 11th of December, 2017. The invitation was to show appreciation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for all the support he has given the company.
Skyrun is also building a manufacturing plant for smart meters in Otta, Ogun State.
It is however, a lie for Governor Ben Ayade media aides to deceive Cross Riverians that the Skyrun Factory was one of the numerous unimplemented MoUs of the globetrotter.
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