Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, has appealed to South East Manufacturers to support small and medium scale enterprises by building strong collaborations with them.

Dr Ngonadi, who made the appeal during an interface with stakeholders in the manufacturing sector, explained that such strong collaboration viewed as an integration model will help grow smaller industries and reinvest in the economy.

 

The industry Commissioner pointed out that the state government has massive plans for small and medium scales enterprises in the state geared towards making the cost of production cheap and boosting the economy.

On his part, the Director, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Francis Onuorah, advised the association to key into various federal government intervention schemes through consultation and engagement as the federal government is committed to moving the country from an importation to a manufacturing nation.

Raising environmental concern, the state Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Felix Odimegwu, encouraged industrialists to invest in recycling of waste to reduce climate change challenges and boost the state economy, frowning that residents and businesses in the state spend billions of naira daily on alternative electricity sources with high carbon emission that worsens climate change.

Speaking on behalf of the manufacturers, the chairperson, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States, Lady Ada Chukwudozie, asked South East Governments to come up with policies that will support industries in the region as they are still fragile.

 

Lady Ada called for incentives for manufacturing companies that were victims of last flooding as billions of naira worth of equipment were destroyed.

A revenue contractor in charge of Onitsha axis of the state, Mr. Chimezie Nwankwo, described manufacturers as the engine room of the economy and assured to solve all related issues of touts through the ministry.

 

Question and answer session climaxed the interface.