President Bola Tinubu has graciously approved the Economic Free Trade Zone in Anambra State to drive the economy as announced by the state government.
This was disclosed yesterday at the Hollywood event center in Awka, Anambra state during the stakeholders seminar , organized by the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN)
The stakeholders sensitization seminar, with the theme: “Securing Trade Corridors and Unlocking Blue Economy Opportunities” was organized by IMAN in collaboration with the Anambra State government.
The state governor, Prof Charles Soludo, was represented by the commissioner for, Industry ,C ommerce and Wealth Creation, Nomso Ebonwu.
He said what Anambra needs is no longer importation of goods, rather, producing and exporting, adding, “we need local investors to grow our economy.”
“We need to drive export, we need to convert Anambra into innovation power house, we need to push our economy into production, we need to train the young ones to drive our economy.”
Also, speaking, the Special Adviser on Investment, SPAD and former commissioner for trade and investment, Christian Udechukwu, commended Tinubu for the opportunity of taking Anambra to the status is has been seeking for.
He said the state government is grateful to the president for what he has done for Anambra and in Southeast.
“Soludo as a visionary governor, made it possible for the first time in the history of, not just Anambra state, but the Southeast.
“Mr governor and the entire people of the state are very deeply grateful to President, Tinubu for the economic free trade zone status conferred on Anambra.
“We are looking to see that we accelerate the development of that space so as to be able to contribute to his vision of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion economy and beyond that.
“It will create prosperity for the state economy and entrepreneurs, families and others to be recruited to be productive with the same space” he said.
The national Patron of IMAN, Dr Azubuike Ekweozor, said commerce flourishes where there is security, confidence, infrastructure, sound regulation and opportunity.
He said IMAN in collaboration with the state government is bringing Anambra’s entrepreneurial spirit, manufacturing capacity, commercial networks and strategic waterways, provide a strong foundation for greater participation in the emerging blue economy and the African Continental Free trade zone.
The stakeholders seminar was chaired by retired Deputy Controller General DCG of Customs, Dera Nnadi, while the lead technical seminar lecture was delivered by Dr Obiora Madu, Director-General, African Center for Supply Chain, among others. All the security agencies, para-military agencies were represented.
SOURCE: The Nation Nigeria
