Anambra records $5m vegetable exports to Europe

AWKA—In a bid to underscore the importance of
diversifying the economy and attracting more
industries to Anambra state, Chief Willy Obiano
has confirmed that the concise Economic
Blueprint, made up of The Four Pillars of
Development; including Agriculture,
Industrialization, Trade and Commerce and Oil
and Gas he developed on assumption of office
has started yielding dividends.
The governor who spoke in Abuja in an interactive
session he had with the People of Anambra living
in the North central part of the country at the
Transcorp Hilton stated that the state is now a
socially stable, business-friendly environment
attracting both indigenes and foreigners to seek
wealth-creating opportunities.
To this end, he told the audience which included
the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Dr Oby
Ezekwesili both PDP and APC members of the
National Assembly, former Governor Chinweoke
Mbadinuju and several others that Anambra State
Investment Agency, ANSIPPA, charged with the
mandate of attracting and fast-tracking
investments in the state has so far attracted over
$4.2 billion deals to the state.
The latest investment he confirmed was sealed
on Tuesday last week with Zolt Energy Limited to
build a 40 megawatts Embedded Power
Generating Plant in Ogbaru.
When completed in the next 18 months as
scheduled, all the power generated from it will be
distributed mainly in Anambra State.
On the state of agriculture, Obiano who was
giving a score card of his two and half years stay
in office disclosed that “in January this year,
Anambra made headlines when it became the first
state in Nigeria to export vegetables (Ugu and
Onugbu) valued at $5million to Europe. At the
same time, our locally produced brand of rice
known as Anambra Rice recently emerged the
Best Rice in Africa at an African Products Forum
in Lagos. Anambra Rice was adjudged better and
more wholesome than other competing brands
from South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco,
Namibia and Cameroon."
Our agricultural sector has also attracted
investments from 7 companies valued at
$1.011bn while the large industrial farms have
pushed our local rice production from 90,000
metric tons to 210,000 metric tons. At this rate,
we shall soon surpass the 320,000 metric tons we
consume in Anambra State per annum”
Obiano told the capacity crowd at the Congress
Hall that the Oil and Gas Advisory Committee
headed by Dr.Emmanuel Egboga, the former
Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum
Matters has been charged with drafting a
comprehensive Blueprint for the Oil & Gas sector
and advising the State on the necessary steps
that would ensure the recognition of Anambra as
the 10th Oil Producing State in Nigeria.

posted by ConnectMe