Forum proffers measures to foster development in South East region

Easing the way of doing business has been cited as one panacea the development of the south east region can be facilitated.

This was among other suggestions put forward at a one-day South East regional stakeholders’forum on “Ease of Doing Business” organised at Aba, by Abia State Enabling Business Environment Council chaired by the State’s Deputy Governor, Ude OkoChukwu.

OkoChukwu said that the forum provided  a platform for government and private sector to interface to formulate  appropriate benchmarks and reforms needed to create conducive environment for business and economic growth,  adding that  “the precarious state of the nation’s economy calls for rejigging of the processes and laws that would  stabilise enabling environment for private sector growth and industrial development”.

The State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who stressed the imperativeness of enforcing consumer protection guidelines, posited that the Southeast should rise above the prevailing challenges to doing business.

He urged the region to leverage its strength and key into the federal governments plans geared towards easing doing business.

In a keynote address, the state Commissioner for Finance, Obinna Oriaku underscored  the state’s sustained commitment to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprise and in this regard beckoned on the South easterners  to unite and facilitate the growth of SMEs across the region. 

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President Mrs Jumoke Oluwole saluted the south east region for its known energetic enterprising spirit and having the wherewithal to advance Nigeria’s business environment saying that the forum was a challenge to the region to find its strength and leverage on it for its growth and development.

She remarked that the numerous SMEs, manufacturing industries including automobile plants that abound in the Southeast, made the region a higher contributor to the nation’s GDP.

According to the Senior Special Assistant, “Aba as the Japan of Africa, hosts  large scale enterprises especially in garment, shoe and leather clusters. The federal government remains committed to a friendly business environment that would  promote local and foreign investments aimed at creating jobs for the teeming population and would sustain support for  export promotion to enhance local products through consistent economic policy”.