Awka, Anambra State – Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has outlined his administration’s ambitious agenda to promote production for export during a Business Roundtable with manufacturers, importers, and exporters in the state.
Themed “From Import to Industrialization for Export,” the event took place at the International Convention Centre in Awka and aimed to address the challenges faced by manufacturers, importers, and exporters while seeking solutions.
Governor Soludo stressed the importance of the government understanding how it can assist investors and their partners in the state. He assured attendees that reforms were underway to expedite the approval processes within ANSIPPA (Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency) without unnecessary delays. He also mentioned efforts to enhance the agency’s facilities for easier access by prospective investors.
Highlighting his administration’s substantial agenda in agriculture, including the palm and coconut revolution, Governor Soludo emphasized the potential for creating a new ecosystem around the state.
He revealed that the government was expanding its land bank and working to reduce the land Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) acquisition process to just 72 hours. Additionally, he pledged to create road markings to differentiate red zones from free zones for motorists.
Addressing concerns about the behavior of ARTMA (Anambra State Traffic Management Agency) officials, Governor Soludo acknowledged discussions were ongoing to revisit fines, with a focus on the public interest.
Furthermore, he discussed plans to explore the possibility of generating captive power using gas and promised that by December, the Upper Iweka area would undergo transformation to become a safer and more appealing investment destination.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Industry under the leadership of Commissioner Mr. Christian Udechukwu, aimed to attract more investors to the state and promote growth.
During the session, various speakers raised key issues, including challenges related to the Monday sit-home protests, poor road conditions around Onitsha (especially Owerri Road), visa processing difficulties, C of O procurement hurdles, security concerns, touting, and the revival of the Onitsha Seaport.
Recommendations to the government included addressing insecurity through the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations, establishing an integrated trade platform, providing incentives for industrialization, and creating a contributory scheme for manufacturers to have a more significant impact.
The event was attended by Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief of Staff to the Governor, and members of the Anambra State Executive Council, along with numerous business leaders.