Abia's position on Direct Foreign Inflow not surprising to me - Former SME Commissioner
Posted by FN Editor | 3 years ago | 975 times
Barr. Gabriel Igboko
The pioneer Commissioner for Small & Medium Entreprise (SME) in Abia State, Barr. Gabriel Igboko says Abia State's position as the third behind Abuja and Lagos in direct foreign investment inflow in 2020 report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is not surprising to him.
The former Commissioner who doubles as a Special Adviser to the Governor stated this while interacting with news men in Umuahia recently. He said, he is happy with the report of the NBS as Governor Ikpeazu established the novel Ministry of SME, adding that the recognition by the National Bureau of Statistics "didn't come to me as a surprise. Abia was the only State that elevated SME as a ministerial level", while other States have SME as departments and units. He attributed the success achieved in the ranking to the Governor's efforts in industry and SME development in Abia State since 2015 which he said was part of the party's manifestoe.
Barr. Igboko commended the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for creating and sponsoring a Micro Finance Bank for small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Abia State. He said such institution is capable of boosting the economy emphasizing that if an average Aba business man is assisted with capital in form of soft loan, it would assist him grow in business and such loan would be revolving among the beneficiaries, thereby improving the State's economy.
He informed that the 'One - Stop - Shop' cum investment house built by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, where investors visit and make all enquiries as well as get all that are needed for investments in the State contributed to the recognition. He maintained that Abia State has been doing great in various areas of small and medium scale enterprises and has been carrying first positions in SME awards.
A former Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Igboko expressed satisfaction over the ongoing total constructions and reconstruction aimed at managing the perennial flooding and environmental challenge in Ngwa Road, Portharcourt Road, Ndiegoro and its environs in Aba by the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in collaboration with the World Bank, saying that the project was able to commence because of the counterpart fund Governor Okezie Ikpeazu paid. He appreciated other projects done through the Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Program (NEWMAP).
Barr. Igboko revealed that Abia State is about to establish a recycling plant which would be the largest in Africa and would engage in full recycling exercise. According to him, the multi- million project is a
100 percent private sector driven project with the State government as a shareholder. He disclosed that the Governor would do both the flag-off and ground breaking exercise, informing that major things needed in the project are being fabricated offshore and would be delivered before the Ikpeazu's government elapses.
While appreciating Governor Ikpeazu for his infrastructural developmental strides in State, Barr. Igboko , who was a former and longest serving PDP Legal Adviser of Abia State urged the Governor to remain focused as he called on the citizenry to sustain their support for him.
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