Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ogochukwu Nwaokafor
The Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, ANSIPPA,
has hosted a roundtable meeting with the media on investment, potential and future of private sector development in Anambra
State.
The event which was held at the Agency’s Boardroom on June 9, in Awka, Anambra State, with the theme: “Unleashing the Economic Potential: Anambra as a Prime Investment Destination”, brought key media representatives together to discuss the Agency’s activities thus far and its plans to foster economic growth in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of ANSIPPA, Mark Okoye, expressed gratitude to the media for their role in promoting the opportunities in the State. He explained that the Agency had attracted over 10 major projects and numerous minor projects since its inception in 2014.
Okoye further unveiled the Agency’s future plan to transition into the Anambra Development and Investment Corporation (ADIC) – a full-fledged development corporation that expands ANSIPPA’s role, enabling it to undertake key phases of project development, such as conceptualization, design, bankability, structuring, and financing.
‘Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has highlighted three key sectors as cornerstones of his transformation agenda: technology, industrialization,
and leisure and entertainment,’ Okoye disclosed.
He said the Agency was mandated to crack the financing of key development projects, noting that ADIC would give the Agency the legal backing it needed.
‘Now, we can prioritize projects with a huge economic and development impact for the benefit of Ndi Anambra,’ said Mark Okoye.
He also provided insights into the Anambra Investment Summit, an event scheduled for September 7-8, 2023. The Summit, it was earnt, would bring together key development partners, development finance institutions, investment banks, captains of industry, government officials, and other stakeholders, to showcase Anambra as a prime investment destination.
‘The investment summit will be the first of its kind. We do not plan to invest our time and resources in organizing a talk shop where people speak English and leave. At this event, we will not only launch the ADIC, but we also intend to sign about seven flagship projects that align with the Soludo Transformation Agenda,’ Okoye divulged.
‘There is something for everyone. We will also have a start-up pitch competition where sectors will receive seed funding for implementation. This administration is intentional about investing in our youth, and the summit will showcase that,’ added Mark Okoye.
During the roundtable, journalists had the opportunity to pose questions and engage in constructive discussions. The questions touched on various subjects, including the housing challenge of the State, the Onitsha River Port Project, the Oseakwa Port, the developing service industry, the agro-economy, and the ease of doing business in the State.
To address the questions raised, the Managing Director gave details about ongoing engagements with stakeholders and potential investors to finalize some projects such as the Anambra Mixed-Use City, AUU Automotive Industrial Park, Integrated Agro-Industrial Park, the Anambra Export Emporium, Anambra Intra-City Rail project, and Solution Innovation & Technology District.
He also explained that the governor was in talks with the concessionaire for the Onitsha River Port to discuss how best to finalize the dredging of the River Niger.
The Agency promised to hold seasonal media engagements to foster a stronger relationship, especially with the official launch of the ADIC.