Business and EconomyLocalNews
Ugwuanyi laments FG’s abandonment of Enugu Trade Fair Complex; Puts smiles on face of pure water seller
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (2nd left); Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma (left); president, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime (2nd right); and state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barr. Sam Ogbu Nwobodo during the opening ceremony of the 28th Enugu International Trade Fair at the trade fair complex, Golf Estate, Enugu, Friday.
From; Madu Ezenoha, Enugu
Enugu state Governor Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the weekend expressed displeasure over the federal government’s neglect of the permanent site of Enugu International Trade Fair complex, noting that other regional trade fair complexes like Lagos and Kaduna had since been fixed by the federal government.
Enugu state government urged the federal government to upgrade the complex in order to bring it at par with Lagos and Kaduna trade fair complexes.
Ugwuanyi who made the passionate appeal while declaring open the 28th Enugu International Trade Fair, lamented that despite perennial appeal to successive federal governments, the trade fair ground has remained
in a state of disrepair due to neglect.
“We however use this occasion to humbly urge the Federal Government to develop the Enugu International Trade Fair complex and bring it to the same level as its contemporaries in Kaduna and Lagos –more so as Enugu
is a regional capital and with this fair having been in existence for 35 years.
“On our own, we assure ECCIMA of the continued support and assistance of the state government especially through the provision of basic amenities and the sustenance of a business- friendly environment in
Enugu State,” Governor Ugwuanyi said.
He noted that the theme of the fair, “Promoting Nigeria’s Industrial Sector and the SMEs For Inclusive and Robust Economy”, could not have been more aptly chosen as it reflects the contemporary and compelling need for deliberate and sustainable policy shifts that will help diversify the nation’s economy and bring to a permanent end, the turmoil and uncertainties associated with oil as our major income earner.
Gov. Ugwuanyi inspected stands at the Enugu Trade Fair and ordered his security personnel to allow a petty trader who was hawking pure water on a wheel barrow that blocked his walkway to continue with her business. He equally supported the woman’s business with a cash gift.
It is on record, that this is the first time in the last ten years that a governor of the state would be personally attending the fair.
On his part, the chairman of the occasion and Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, stressed that the development of the private sector should be government’s priority, because of its ability to engender sustainable poverty reduction without which Nigeria’s attainment of inclusive and sustainable development will remain a
perennial pipe dream.
Ekweremadu lamented the nation’s current non-competitive and volatile exchange rate which he said has led to the closure and death of many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) , noting, “Indeed, currency volatility is worse than ‘high exchange rates’ as it makes planning and business transactions extremely difficult”.
He called for a special tax regime for SMEs both at the state and federal level, in order to help them grow.
The Deputy Senate President stated that the current economic challenges facing the nation calls for urgent regional or geographical economic integration, stressing that like industries, states stand to gain more and develop commerce, industry, mines and agriculture faster when they converge their potentials and resources to benefit from the economies of scale.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, who was represented at the fair by Mrs. Evelyn Nwachukwu, the Director of Trade Development in the ministry, said the theme of this year’s
fair was in line with the federal government’s vision and economic policies geared towards creating an enabling business environment to enhance investment and industrialization.
He said that SMEs play crucial role adding that government had expanded the number of participating agencies in the Nigerian Enterprises Development Programme (NEDEP) to include: Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Rev. Ugochukwu Chime reiterated the call for the federal government to upgrade facilities at the fair complex, stressing that since the commencement of trade fair in the permanent site, seven years ago, ECCIMA had invested a lot of resources to
improve infrastructural facilities at the complex.
He said that Nigeria’s economic challenges which have been worsened by volatility in the price of its mono revenue foreign exchange earner oil, has made the issue of productivity an essential element for the nation’s economy, through effective support to the Industrial Sector and SMEs.
