By Chukwudi Nweje
Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) has announced its plan to transition into a full-fledged development corporation that would undertake key phases of project development, such as conceptualization, design, bankability, structuring and financing.
Managing Director of ANSIPPA, Mark Okoye, disclosed at a media roundtable in Awka, Anambra State that the new outfit would be known as the Anambra Development and Investment Corporation (ADIC).
Okoye said Governor Chukwuma Soludo has mandated the ADIC with the financing of key development projects.
“Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo has highlighted three key sectors as cornerstones of his transformation agenda: technology, industrialisation, and leisure and entertainment.
“As ANSIPPA, we are mandated to crack the financing of key development projects. ADIC will give us that legal backing we need. Now, we can prioritise projects with a huge economic and development impact for the benefit of Ndi Anambra.”
He said the forthcoming Anambra Investment Summit scheduled for September 7- 8, 2023 will bring together key development partners, Development Finance institutions, investment banks, captains of industries, 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 organising 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 Gov Soludo’s transformation agenda.
“There is something for everyone. We will also have a start-up pitch competition where great ideas cutting across key sectors will receive seed funding for implementation. This administration is intentional about investing in our youth, and the summit will showcase that.”
The Media Roundtablewhich brought key media representatives together to discuss the Agency’s activities since its inception in 2014 and its plans to foster economic growth in the State had the theme ‘Unleashing the Economic Potential: Anambra as a Prime Investment Destination.’
It discussed issues such as the housing challenge in Anambra 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.
He disclosed that the State Government is already engaging stakeholders and potential investors to finalise 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 and 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.
Okoye reiterated that ANSIPPA is committed to working with other ministries, and departments and agencies (MDAs) to fulfil the transformation agenda of the Soludo-led administration.
He expressed his gratitude to the media for their role in promoting the opportunities in the State and explained that the Agency has attracted over 10 major projects and numerous minor projects since its inception in 2014.