Anambra Plans Export-Free Trade Zone

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra says the state government will soon establish  export free trade zone in Ogbaru Council area, near the River Niger.

Obi disclosed this yesterday in Onitsha at a stakeholders’ meeting on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from Anambra North Senatorial District.

The councils under the district include Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru, Oyi, Anambra East, Anambra West and Ayemelum.

“The pursuit of the zone will be achieved to raise the level of commerce in Onitsha,’’ he said.

Obi said that government had given two boats to the naval formation at Ogbaru area and land to build their camp to fortify security in the area.

He said that five new industries were springing up at the industrial harbour in Atani, Ogbaru, while a new road was being built to ease the heavy vehicular traffic.

According to the governor, one of the new industries is the 100 million dollar (N15 billion) brewery project by SAB-Miller South-African Breweries.

Chief Godwin Okeke, Patron of Onitsha Market Traders, assured the government of their co-operation on payment of taxes.

“The government should sensitise the various markets’ unions and associations on their civic duty.We also call on the government to ensure that the money paid will never go into private pockets,’’ he said.

http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/?p=26418

Good news. . . . , its slowly coming together in the South East.

We have a future to look forward too.

Sun of god:

Good news. . . . , its slowly coming together in the South East.

We have a future to look forward too.

We have been waiting for this for many years. Alaigbo will progress.

Alaigbo is progressing without noisemaking

This is a welcome development for Ndigbo

What does an "export free trade zone" mean? Is it a place where you can only manufacture/ import and not export? I am really floating here, can someone catch me?

Nice one for anambra, this is a welcome development, i just hope the project will be completed on time

blank:

What does an "export free trade zone" mean? Is it a place where you can only manufacture/ import and not export? I am really floating here, can someone catch me?

Float on

I think Export-free zone means they would get incentives like cheap tariffs,taxes,custom duties on goods exported.

@Topic,Laudable but not yet uhuru . . .waiting and watching.

@ Ify, if what u say is true, then its a misnomer. Free Trade zone sounds more like it.

If that is what it is, then i am all for it.

Obi should ride on.
I sincerely look forward to seeing my people cut rigorious act of importing through lagos which we know is a factor that swell the price of most goods. If onitsha wharf is through and thorough what would make our merchants import with lagos as destination.
Pls peter aim for another once this is done.

THAT'S MY GOOD STATE , WE ARE MOVING AT THE TOP
SOONER OR LATER, WE WILL LEAD THE WORLD

Thank God

nice one that will benefit me very well

lol,

What can I say gan sef?

Must every state in Naija open a free trade zone? has he asked OGUN and LAGOS what they have achieved with their free trade zones?

Onitsha is not Ogun or Lagos. That those 2 statezs failed does not mean this one will fail. Onitsha is a strictly commercial city so that will go a long way.

Good development

blank:

What does an "export free trade zone" mean? Is it a place where you can only manufacture/ import and not export? I am really floating here, can someone catch me?

Like @ifyalways said FLOAT ON; I hope you get hold of yourself less you drown in river of thoughts.

Ask yourself what a trade zone is? What is Export and what is free? Add the three together, you get the answer to your question. @ifyalways has answered most of your questions. However, if you still need answers, ask again and I will help but for now you have clues.

Eko Ile:

lol,

What can I say gan sef?

Please don't say anything, best for you to keep mute. People who are allergic to success often don't say anything

It's about time they open Sapele, Warri, Calabar ports. All this dependence on Lagos port has to stop. Imagine the jobs that can be created from agriculture alone if you make these ports mainly an agricultural and steel exporting port.

Eko Ile:

lol,

What can I say gan sef?

Silly human being. Say your silly mind. When will you ever appreciate any good thing? Failed people

Please, the contract should be awarded to a company that have compliance to international ISO 9001 standards such as Julius Berger.

sleekman:

It's about time they open Sapele, Warri, Calabar ports. All this dependence on Lagos port has to stop. Imagine the jobs that can be created from agriculture alone if you make these ports mainly an agricultural and steel exporting port.

Good post. Nigeria has relied on Lagos for far too long. Now look at the city. It has become overcrowded.

i can see most commentators here do not reside in naija, talkless of Anambra. This obi guy is a crook, what free trade zone is he talking about? what new road is he on about. The guy is blowing hot air/noise. there is nothing on ground to suggest any ew development. He talks of Sab miller comig in with a $100million investment. guess who is their local partner!! yeahm you are right, the governor himself!!! he is a crook, man.

Obi really has mental problem.
Let him pay striking doctors, judges, teachers and pay civil servants the new minimum wage first !
Na wa for naija

^^^^ Both of you are mentally debased. Your post are not worthy to be listed.

fenando po:

i can see most commentators here do not reside in naija, talkless of Anambra. This obi guy is a crook, what free trade zone is he talking about? what new road is he on about. The guy is blowing hot air/noise. there is nothing on ground to suggest any ew development. He talks of Sab miller comig in with a $100million investment. guess who is their local partner!! yeahm you are right, the governor himself!!! he is a crook, man.

My friend shut up. I live in Anambra precisely Awka. As I write this piece SABMILLER of South Africa is presently in Onitsha building their world class brewery plant. Whoever their internal partner is, it doesn't matter. What is important is the industrialization of the city to create employment for Anambra state and SE at large.

@Chino
I think that it does matter who their local partner is. You would find out that there is a feeling of conflict of interest in the wider community if, in fact, the Governor is their local partner. It is a recipe for corruption and should be discouraged.  In my opinion, a different local partner should be arranged for this foreign investor. That can't be too hard, I wouldn't have thought.

meine:

[size=13pt] Must every state in Naija open a free trade zone? [/size] has he asked OGUN and LAGOS what they have achieved with their free trade zones?

Na wa o!!!! Na so we see am ooo . . . .  Calabar has one, about 300 miles from Anambra state ooo!!!!

Imagine a situation where every other state now wants to invest at least a billion dollars, not naira, to build a Free Trade zone in their house there, simply because the next state's own never ready. Na wa oo!!

meine:

Must every state in Naija open a free trade zone? has he asked OGUN and LAGOS what they have achieved with their free trade zones?

well said, all we are hearing is good development but what can it achieve for the state

cross river, ondo, ogun, lagos osun. what has it achieved for those states nothing IMO

anambra is just going to join the chase as the rest of them

meine:

Must every state in Naija open a free trade zone? has he asked OGUN and LAGOS what they have achieved with their free trade zones?

Other export free trade zones failed because adequate feasibility studies were not carried to ascertain the viability of such zones in the areas.
This is what is killing Nigeria, sentiment! Most were done without much thought on how it will benefit the whole country and not just mere citing a project in my town or region to cheat others. That's why we have white elephant projects littered everywhere from Ajaokuta to Tinapa.

alj harem:

well said, all we are hearing is good development but what can it achieve for the state

cross river, ondo, ogun, lagos osun.  what has it achieved for those states nothing IMO

anambra is just going to join the chase as the rest of them

The ones in Lagos and Ondo/Ogun are not on line yet so you really can not make any kind of assertion about their benefits at this moment. You just have to wait.

Unlike Dukes scheme in CR, these are structured around specific areas of businesses, I don't see any problem and if I might add, they are all backed by foreign investors and they hardly sink their money on businesses without doing the necessary and routine studies and obtaining permits and approvals.