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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has inaugurated the new board for Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA).
Soludo, while inaugurating the agency whose board is headed by Mustafa Chike Obi and Chinedu Onyiuke as secretary, charged them to work hard to ensure the actualisation of the agency’s mandate.
Other members include the MD/CEO, ANSIPPA, Mr. Mark Okoye, Attorney General, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje; Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ifeatu Onejeme; Commissioner for Lands, Prof Offornze Amucheazi, SAN; and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Chiamaka Nnake.
Others include the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Obinna Ngonadi; Mr Sammy Chidoka, Mr Christian Udechukwu, Dr. Marcel Offormata and Dr. Emeka Okeke respectively.
The functions of ANSIPPA, among other things include to handhold and guide all investors in the state to ensure that the process of doing business is streamlined and managed efficiently.
The team is also to identify specific viable infrastructure projects across ministries, departments and agencies and invite interested investors to participate via PPP, concessions, JVs, etc; strengthen strategic partnerships and enhance the ability of current and future investors to create jobs and expand access to the export market.
They are also to manage the state’s investment portfolio and partner with international development agencies and NGOs to attract their technical support and funding to improve the investment climate in Anambra.
Soludo said: “This is a very important agency of government and one that we expect to play a very critical role in the industrialization of Anambra; in creating that Anambra of our vision, to be the industrial, leisure, entertainment and technology hub within Nigeria and Africa. To get that done, this agency is expected to play a decisive role.”
The governor lamented the state of the country’s economy, urging everyone to work hard to ensure that the government generates the revenue it needs to work for the people.
“Government revenue is sliding down. We hope that it will improve over time. Debt situations with humongous challenges are all over the place, insecurity, infrastructural challenges, legal issues and all manner of issues that can be challenging to investors.
“However, this is an era you have both opportunities and threats in terms of financing. We know that there could be lots of creative opportunities that could give rise in some other financing options that we need to explore.
“We believe that ANSIPPA should be able to reform our business environment, to drive the cost of doing business to near zero. It should be that one stop shop for clearance and all kinds of impediments and incentives that should be able to reduce the impediments to the barest minimum and raise the incentives to the maximum possible”, Soludo said.
Speaking virtually, Obi thanked the Governor for considering him fit for the job and assured of his commitment to make the agency a world class institution.
“You’ll have a hundred percent of my effort, to make this a world class institution. You’ll have wonderful governance. Nothing will happen in ANSIPPA that will not be held up to the highest possible standards of governance.
“Anybody who is not prepared for a high level of governance will not fit into this board. I think you have chosen carefully.
“I’ve been a beneficiary of some of your big ideas. I know the bank consolidation was your idea. I know that the board of AMCON was your idea and I hope you’ll continue with your big ideas”, Obi said.
