Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has restated the resolve of his administration to assist manufacturers to surmount major challenges hindering the industrialisation of the state.
Soludo gave the assurance during a town hall meeting with manufacturers at the Habour Industrial Layout, Ogbaru, near Onitsha.
The governor said that buying local products was the best way to support its growth and urged the citizenry living abroad and outside the state to send 25-50 percent of the taxes they pay to their home state, Anambra, assuring that if they do, the state will be much better in five to ten years.
According to him, the recent agreement reached with energy distributors in the southeast, the EEDC was the first step toward encouraging manufacturers.
Soludo promised to continue to assist MAN through government policies and programmes to boost productivity in the state.
Ada Chukwudozie, the chairperson for MAN, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States, said the organisation under her leadership was determined to boost the industrial base of Anambra.
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Chukwudozie expressed hope that an enabling atmosphere such as the regular provision of power supply, good road network and security, among others will increase productivity, create jobs and raise people’s standard of living.
She said the recent memorandum of understanding the Anambra government signed with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for regular supply of power across the state was the right step to boost industrialisation.
Humphrey Anuna, the president-general, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), in an interview with journalists, said that Governor Soludo has shown commitment to boosting the state’s industrial base.
He called on industrialists and members of MAN to cooperate with the government for the realisation of the lofty dream.
Contributing, one of Nnewi-based industrialists and managing director/CEO of Chikason Group of Companies, Chika Okafor, said, “Looking at what we are passing through, it is discouraging. Our plight is not what one can wish for his greatest enemy because of some obvious reasons.
“Without power and security, you cannot attract a workforce to Anambra State. We have equipment since four years but the contractors handling them ran away due to insecurity.”
He praised the governor for his ideas which he said will impact positively on the manufacturers in the state.
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