By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The stage is set for the unveiling of projects that have been developed from conceptualization to bankability for potential investors by the Anambra State government. To put their money on.

The summit which is organized by the Anambra State Investment Summit for the second time running will be held at the International Conference Centre in Awka, on November 14 2024

This was disclosed to journalists in Awka during a world press conference jointly organized by the Anambra Investment Protection and Promotion Agency (ANSIPPA), the State Ministry of Industry, and the State Ministry of Information in Awka on Monday.

They explained that the November 2024 Summit is a follow-up to the first edition which was held last year, during which the state signed up on initiatives.

In his speech, the Managing Director of ANSIPPA, Mr Mark Okoye, said that the governor has a clear understanding of what he wants to achieve, as captured in his manifesto and the Anambra 50-year plan, especially in the areas of infrastructure, energy sufficiency, agriculture, innovation, tourism, industrialization among others.

According to him, that was the reason why Soludo repositioned ANSIPPA from being a supply-driven agency, where investors come with their own plans, to a demand-driven agency, which focuses on the projects that the governor has promised the people.

Okoye revealed that ANSIPPA now works with all line Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs and takes projects from conceptualization all the way through the different levels to where it becomes bankable, so that investors and Development Financing Institutions, DFIs can see the bankability.

He recalled that the first investment summit saw the governor sign a few projects including a feasibility study for the Anambra Industrial City, for work to start on the rail masterplan, with a funding agreement with AFREIXIM bank, for the completion of the Awka Shopping Mall, the Oma vehicle assembly plant, and others in the areas of Agriculture and Power.

The ANSIPPA boss added, ?Over the last 12 months, extensive work has been done. And one year after, the governor wants to use the summit to give account and updates on the signed projects.

?At the upcoming investment summit, the projects that have been taken from conceptualization to bankability stage, will be showcased to investors for expressions of interest.

?The summit will host a lot of Anambra investors, businessmen and industrialists, representatives of DFIs, a delegation from the federal government, and many others.

?It is not just a talk shop. The takeaway is to ensure that the state has a database of investors on the debt and equity sides that have interrogated the different projects showcased and have committed to making investments and shown how they intend to do so.

?The new projects to be showcased will include the Anambra Industrial City, the Rail Masterplan, the New Awka City, the new city that will be built on the banks of the River Niger, the 10-storey hotel to be sited at the Anambra International Conference Centre, the Solution Innovation District, among others.

?The governor will also be speaking to the Anambra Development and Investment Corporation, which is an entity whose draft bill is being transmitted to the Anambra State House of Assembly for onward passage.

?ADIC will be the platform upon which all the conceptualization and investment management strategies will be accomplished, while the ANSIPPA will now maintain its role as a promotional agency.?

In his speech, the Commissioner for Industry, Mr Christian Udechukwu, said the summit is geared towards updating citizens on where the state is presently in terms of development and to also signpost all investors and Anambra people on where the state is going.

While harping on the seriousness with which the government is approaching the initiative, Udechukwu emphasized that only projects that are ready for immediate development, with starting and completion dates will be showcased on the day of the summit.

He noted: "Only Investors who are ready with their money, have clarity on their technical capacity and competencies, and have proof of funds in place to start the project once the signature is put to paper and to deliver them on schedule, will be entertained.?

The Commissioner further said that at the summit, the people will see a new economic sector that will create wealth opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors both local and foreign in the solid mineral and oil and gas areas.

He said: ?The summit comes at a great time when Anambra is ranked number one in the area of ease of doing business in all of Southern Nigeria and number seven nationally.

?We are also number one in fiscal transparency and performance, the most viable in resource management, doing more with less, SMEs support and friendliness in terms of support, and many other positive feats.?

On his part, the State Information Commissioner, Dr Law Mefor, said the summit underscores the fact that the development trajectory of the state has to go through the pathway of Public Private Partnership, PPP.

He stressed that all the fiscal resources required to drive development in the state are with the private sector, saying that Soludo is deploying his experience in economic concerns to harness the potential of the sector.

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