INDUSTRY COMMISSIONER RATES ANAMBRA INDIGENES HIGH IN BUSINESS PROWESS
By Amaka Isikala :
Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udechukwu has rated the people of the state as the most resilient individuals in the Southern states of Nigeria.
He said that the people’s indefatigable prowess and ease in doing business at home and in The Diaspora ranks highest and unbeatable.
Mr. Udechukwu made these assertion while commending the infrastructural and developmental abilities of the people of the state in while giving his open remarks in a sensitization programme in Awka themed, ”Accelerating Made-in Anambra By Developing and Promoting Non-Oil Export In the State“.
The commissioner expressed happiness over the state’s consistence and championship abilities in infrastructural acquisitions and development in the Nigeria business space.
“We recently won an award at SMEDAN event with international partners at the Presidential Villa where we emerged the best and the most friendly SME state in the Southeast.”
Mr. Udechukwu noted that staging the programme remained a significant step in the right direction as it is geared towards enhancing and fine-tunning the living standards of the people and moving their businesses to greater heights.
“We are working very hard to invest for today and investing for tomorrow and all the investments the state has been making as regards non-export products and development are to ensure that our people are healthy.
“The state is offering free ante-natal medical care to pregnant women and we have also introduced free education from primary to secondary school which is an investment in knowledge to ensure that whatever we are doing today continues through the unforeseeable future.
“We are working towards ensuring that by the end of this year, we would have completed at least a minimum of 400 kilometer roads in and around the state.”
He assured that the state government is focused on building a smart mega city implying that any business cited in the state would be able to be easily moved from one point to another point within the shortest possible time considering the road networks of the state.
“We are also working on power because government has recognized the challenges power is possing on SMEs.”
Mr Udechukwu noted that the government is doing all it could to support families and sustain a healthy living standard for ndi Anambra and making the state livable too.
The Regional Coordinator Nigeria Export Promotion Council(NEPC) SouthEast Enugu office, Mr. Macpherson Ileogben in his presentation tagged, “Developing and Promoting Non-oil Exports in Anambra state”, highlighted the agro resources in Anambra state which include availability of fertile land, cassava, vegetables, palm oil, yam and rice.
Others are mineral resources ranging from natural gas, crude oil, ceramics, lead and zinc while investment opportunities consists of trading, manufacturing, healthcare, tourism and Informstion Communication Technology.
Mr. Ileogben pointed out that the reason for export is to earn foreign exchange, increase sales and profit volumes, enhance domestic competitiveness, gain global market share and reduce dependence on existing markets.
He noted that growing non-oil export is a way to address the foreign exchange liquidity challenge and adding value to what we are exporting.
He, then, emphasized that there was need to comply with government’s export regulations, carry out all necessary analysis on products, package and label products approximately as these formed the keys to developing products and also ensuring a viable export strategy.
The Publicity officer Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Engr. Wariboko Fidelis also a resource person in his presentation, ”Developing the capacity of Exporters to double export in Anambra state through accelerated sensitization of non-oil sector to satisfy standard requirements for International Trade”, expressed that Anambra state has a total land area of 4,865km that is rich in both natural and Human Resources.
“Anambra is the second most densely populated state in Nigeria and their main traditional agro products are vegetables,Palm oil, rice , cassava, maize , citrus fruits while the main solid minerals include kaolin, limestone lead, iron and lignite.”
According to him export promotion offers numerous benefits for developing from accessing global markets to diversifying revenue streams, creating employment opportunities, foastering technological advancements and enhancing productivity.
The President Awka Chamber of commerce Pharm. Uchenna Apakama solicited for adequate sensitization and awareness to enable people have better value for their products and services.
He noted that there was need to organize people in groups, clusters and cooperatives in order to champion export deal and also link industries with them to boost and facilitate trade.
The Desk Officer Export, Ministry of Industry, Dr.Tonia Anyamele in her vote of thanks commended the commissioner for his efforts in keeping the ministry in forefront and in helping to accelerate snd enhance the productivity of ndi Anambra.
She also thanked the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Barr. Samuel Ike for moving the ministry forward and enjoined the participants to make utmost use of the knowledge acquired to enrich their horizon.
Some processed food items by some Anambra producers ranging from palm oil, dry pap, tumeric, beans flour, yam flour, dried oyster, kuli kuli and other spices were on display at the event.