YECCIMA seeks international collaboration for local exports

 In order to create avenue for the export of local products from Bayelsa State, the Yenagoa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (YECCIMA) says it is seeking collaboration with international groups.

Warmate Idikio, director-general, YECCIMA, stated this in a chat with Oriental Business in Yenagoa, Tuesday, explaining that such collaboration would also enhance local business potential, and said the chamber was exploiting avenues to partner the chamber of commerce of Cameroon as as part of its efforts to collaborate with international partners.

Stressing that 2013 would be a busy

year, he stated that the chamber kick-started business activities this year with an entrepreneurial training on February 13 and 14 in Yenagoa, saying the chamber would soon begin discussion with the Federal University, Otuoke, to enter into a partnership agreement with the entrepreneurial unit of the institution to expand capacities for local entrepreneurs in the state.

Idikio, a legal practitioner, stated that entrepreneurial training would be a key part of its 2013 programme, as the chamber was aiming to develop entrepreneurial skills of its members to take advantage of local products.

According to him, they have also initiated discussion with the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency towards collaborating in hosting the proposed Bayelsa Investment Summit in Yenagoa.

The investment summit has been on the drawing board, and he stated: “We are determined to host the investment summit this year because it holds huge potential for both foreign and local investors.”

After successfully hosting its first national trade fair last year, he said plans were already on to host the second edition of the Yenagoa Trade Fair this year.

Although the fair was disrupted by flooding that virtually cut off Bayelsa from neighbouring Delta and Rivers states, he maintained that the chambers had many positives from its first national fair.

SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa