Imo government partners UNIDO, initiates state industrial policy

The Imo State Government, yesterday, commenced an initiative that will birth an industrial policy blueprint for the state, stressing that he desires to industrialise the state, make it less dependent federal allocations and create jobs for the people.

Governor Hope Uzodimma, who disclosed this while declaring open a stakeholders summit to drive the process in Owerri, commended the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), led by its consultant, Dr. Francis O. Alaneme and Director General of the Imo State Investment Promotion Agency (ISIPA), Dr. Jude Nzeako.

He lamented that successive administrations failed to produce the policy, saying: “My dream of Imo State is that it will no longer depend on federal allocation for survival. My vision is that the state will create jobs for its teeming youths through industrialisation.

“I am delighted that we are here today to meet with UNIDO to brainstorm on an effective roadmap towards the formulation and implementation of an industrial policy for Imo State.”

While expressing hope that the production and implementation of the document would move the state forward, Uzodimma added: “This is quite different from previous policies and practices, which favoured only a few privileged persons.

“One major attraction of this gathering is that we are formulating an industrial policy that will be all-encompassing for the entire state, touching all the 27 councils and taking particular note of their areas of comparative advantage.

Uzodimma, therefore, urged the stakeholders to use the opportunity to make the state proud and economically developed.

In their separate speeches, Alaneme and Nzeako, pointed out that the process would enhance the state’s Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), stressing that within three years of implementation of the policy, the state would gain by creating about two million direct jobs.

“Moribund factories and industries will be revived in the 27 councils of the state in line with their comparative advantages, including locating at least two industries in each council through the mapping out of the required hectares of land for the purpose,” they said.