President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ECCIMA, Sir Emeka Nwandu, has called on the government to create an enabling business environment that will be attractive to investors.
He made the call in his speech delivered on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 32nd edition of the Enugu International Trade Fair, holding at the Trade Fair complex, Gulf Estate, Government Reserved Area (GRA), Enugu.
He highlighted the importance of trade Fair, saying:” There is no doubt that trade fairs offer great opportunities for industralists, investors, buyers and sellers to interact , exchange business ideas and share experiences for investment promotion and general economic growth.
” ECCIMA in paternership with federal and state governments is determined to sustain this effort and to continue to improve the standards.
He described the theme of this year’s. Fair,””Promoting new technologies, business ideas and strategies for rapid economic growth and development in Nigeria ” as apt.
Nwandu said that “the reality of our economic challenges as occasioned by the new normal has made it indispensable that we identify new technologies, business ideas and strategies that would lead to the rapid development of nation”s economy.
“It is the right time both the public and private sector seriously and meaningfully engage each other in removing the bureaucratic bottlenecks and over-regulations by government agencies that hinder the innovations and development of new ideas by startups and the small and medium enterprises.
” It is the right time for us to work as partners in progress and close up the gaps in our relationship between the private sector and the public sector which has affected to a reasonable extent the support to startups with beautiful ideas The public sector must speed up the process of creating the enabling environment for people with new ideas to boldly come up for identification.”
Nwandu expressed the appreciation of ECCIMA to the federal government through the federal ministry of industry ,trade and investment for approving the development of the permanent site of the Enugu international trade Fair complex , Gulf estate, Enugu.
He said that the Chamber has resolved to maintain COVID-19 protocols and to ensure adequate security during the fair.
The president disclosed that the Enugu international trade Fair has contributed immensely to national development,saying ,”we shall remain committed to using this platform to accelerate and accentuate our efforts to the growth and development of our individual, corporate as well as national economy.
ECCIMA boss thanked their stakeholders fort the confidence reposed in them and for being able to work extra hard to participate and be part of the fair. He appealed to all participants and visitors to ensure that they “keep to all the protocols of COVID-19 to reduce the rate of spread of the pandemic.”
He expressed hope that participants, exhibitors and visitors would have fulfilling rewarding and pleasant experience throughout the period of the fair.
