AfDB, DFIs To Storm Awka For Second Anambra Investment Summit Nov. 14
African Development Bank, Afreximbank, United Nations Development Programme and other Development Finance Institutions are set to converge on Awka for the second Anambra Investment Summit scheduled for Awka Nov. 14.
Mr Mark Okoye, Managing Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) who said this at the weekend assured that the mission of m Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to make Anambra the preferred investors destination was still on course.
Okoye said the summit which would hold at the International Convention Centre,Awka with representatives of Federal Government and members of business community in attendance.
He said the state was already reaping benefits of the first investment summit held last year with the implementation of some of the business agreements signed with investors including the revitalisation of the abandoned Anambra shopping mall.
He said other baseline projects being put in place for a smooth take off of industrialisation in Anambra include mixed-use industrial city, masterplan for a rail system that would connect major towns massive road projects connecting Awka to other parts of the state.
Okoye said the government through ANSIPPA had improved the ease of doing business and incentivised investment by offering land to investors in exchange for equity in line with its private sector led economy objective
“The vision of Mr. Governor is to make Anambra a preferred location to live, work, learn, enjoy and relax by making it a smart mega city state that becomes a hub for industrialisation, innovation and tourism.
“To achieve that, the government is working on a number of pillars including security, human capital development, the environment for sustainable cities, rule of law and infrastructure.
“Mr Governor wants to industriallise Anambra, to achieve that, some projects are important, these are industrial parks, rail system, energy sufficiency and export as well as building new cities.
“The summit will be an opportunity to give report of the first one and showcase investment opportunities for local and international investors,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Christian Udechukwu, Commissioner for Industry said Anambra was working on policy and legal framework which would make energy available and accessible.
Udechukwu said the prevailing energy pricing and availability could not support the industrialisation drive of any serious state.
He said there was need for a shift in energy source adding that Anambra would take advantage of the reforms in the power secto
r to activate its potential.
