Anambra govt to sustain support to local manufacturers - Obiano
01 JUNE 2016


BY KENECHUKWU OFOMAH
The State Government is to construct the Umunwehi road leading to Stine Industries, Amichi in Nnewi South Council Area. Governor Willie Obiano disclosed this when he visited the industry recently.



The industry whose operations were rejuvenated through a loan provided by the Anambra Small Business Agency, ASBA, is into rice milling, processing and bagging.

Speaking after he was conducted round the various sections of the industry, Governor Obiano expressed delight at what it has been able to achieve within a short period, especially the "Best Rice Brands in Africa" Award which it won with Anambra rice.



The Governor who described local manufacturers as key stakeholders in growing the state's GDP, said his administration will sustain its support to them as a way of creating wealth and employment opportunity to Ndi Anambra especially in the rural places.

He expressed happiness that the paddy used for production by the Mill is sourced entirely from Farms in the state, adding that with the increased yield expected from Rice farms across the State through his administration's intervention, the state is headed towards food sufficiency in rice production.



The Commissioner for Agriculture, Processing and Mechanisation, Mr Afam Mbanefo said what the present administration aims to achieve with its support to line industries in the Agricultural Sector is to engender a system where produce from farms in the state will easily find its offtakers that will process and package them using the Anambra Brand.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Industry, Chief Akai Egwuonwu acknowledged that the revolutionary Agricultural Policy of the Governor in boosting rice production in the State has ensured that the Industry scale up its production capacity from its initial 26,000 metric tons to 141,000 metric tons of rice Annually.

In their separate remarks, the APGA Chairman, Anambra South Senatorial District, Chief Titus Anigbogu and an APGA Stalwart in the Area, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka described the governor's support to indigenous manufacturers as the way to go in promoting locally-manufactured products.

In a vote of thanks, a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the State, Chief Maja Umeh thanked the Governor for his consistency in pursuing his developmental agenda across the sectors of the State's economy despite the harsh economic times, noting that Ndi Anambra is blessed to have him as their leader.

This is a welcome development.