ANAMBRA INVESTMENT SUMMIT GEARED AT ACCELERATING PARTNERSHIP FOR TRANSFORMATION OF ANAMBRA—GOV. SOLUDO

By Amaka Isikala/Ebele Iyke Odili :

The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo has described the Anambra State Investment Summit as a strategic event which is geared towards accelerating partnerships for the state’s transformation.

The Summit was put together by the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) at the International Civic Centre (ICC), Awka which was themed, ‘Changing Gears: Accelerating Anambra Economic Transformation’.

The governor while thanking the attendees for the sacrifice they made to grace the occasion said that the event is like non-other as Anambra State is ready for investment.

“The fundamentals are strong and we are doing everything to actualize a livable and sustainable Anambra in terms of infrastructure, industrialization and a huge dive into security matters which we are not relenting to keep in check.

“That we are asking the people to invest in Anambra is not to do us a favour but it is in their own interests; those who invested now in the mixed used industrial city, the Awka 2.0 and Onitsha 2.0 would tell the story in years to come.

“We are looking for partners and I commend and urge you all to come home and invest.”

The Commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udechukwu while participating in a panel of discussion at the summit, described the state as a strong and thriving hub for trade, commerce and industry.

He said that the people’s entrepreneurial prowess and the government’s groundbreaking development of the state makes it a business friendly environment and a destination for investment deals.

The commissioner noted that historically the state is a significant producer of farm produce like rice, cassava, vegetables, yams and sundry agro production.

“We have 12 clusters of industrial capacity across Anambra and Mr. Governor felt the need to have a structure that is industrial driven; that is the reason this administration has given birth to the concept of enabling an industrial development which include automotive and pharmaceutical hub.”

Mr. Udechukwu affirmed that the Gov. Soludo’s administration is working at ensuring that the state becomes the industrial hub for Africa as a whole.

The Managing Director, ANSIPPA, Mr. Mark Okoye emphasized that the progress that Gov. Soludo has made is a testament to the commitment he has towards making the state a proud investment destination.

“We are taking a next step into our journey by changing gears which required not just momentum acceleration but a strategic focus on the future despite the challenges we face.

“It is clear that the role of the policy makers in the state is to come up with actions and solutions that commands a tangible difference in the lives of our residents”.

The MD noted that Gov. Soludo and his team has shown an unwavering dedication to transforming the state from a place of opportunity to a destination for investment and prosperity.

“Our goal is to make Anambra a beacon for sustainable growth and economic development. This summit is part of our vision, which leads to a collective duty to focus on long term planning and creation of a frame work that would ensure the sustainable growth of our economy not just for today but for generations to come.”

Climax of the event was the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between some Organizations and the government to lay credence to the Private Public Partnership (PPP) policies of the state government.