AGRO INVESTMENT: ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT PARTNERS AFDB TO FUND $100MILLION PROJECTS
By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
The Anambra State Government in collaboration with African Development Bank (AFDB) is set to deliver intervention projects worth $100Million in the agricultural /industrial sectors across the state.
The projects comprising of Agricultural Transformation Centres and Special Agro Processing Zone are aimed to unlock the huge agricultural potentials in production of rice, sorghum, maize, yam among others.
The Managing Director, Anambra State Investment Promotion And Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Mr Mark Okoye, made the disclosure during an engagement meeting with a delegation from African Development Bank in his office.
According to him, the state government decided to adopt a coordinated approach to collaborating with the bank as well as private sector led by Arise and Coscharis Groups to implement the project.
While illustrating vital components of the Projects master plan including the Anambra Mixed Use Industrial City(AMIC),he expressed hope that the strategic partnership and commitment would solve problems, open up opportunities and boost the state’s economic growth.
He, then, used the occasion to invite the bank to the launch of 2nd Anambra Investment Summit slated to hold on Nov. 14, 2024 at the International Conference Centre, Awka.
The ANSIPPA Boss noted that the event would feature expression of interest on industrial infrastructure, pointing out that over 800 investors had registered online to participate.
Earlier, the Chief Agro-Industry Officer, African Development Bank, Mr Chukwuma Ezedinma, said that the state was selected for the project based on a very strong private sector interest and good feasibility study.
“Now, the Special Agro Processing Zone has the Agro Industrial Hub, Agricultural Transformation Centres and Aggregation Centres. We are more interested in Agro Industrial Hub and the Agricultural Transformation Centres.
He added that they were in the state to discuss in details what was presented in the feasibility study and to confirm details concerning the project implementing unit, steering committee and technical committee.
“We also want to know details about the Resettlement Action Plan, Stakeholders Engagement Plan and Livelihood Restoration Plan.
A Member of the team who doubles as the Senior Rural Infrastructural Engineer, AFDB, Mr Bashir Ibrahim Gaya, emphasized the pivotal role of the bank in fostering sustainable growth and affirmed its commitment to also offer technical assistance.
The state government was represented by the Commissioners for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, Commissioner For Industry, Mr Christian Udechukwu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uzoka, while Mr Chinedu Obieri represented Coscharis Group.
*Chukwuka is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State