In a concerted effort to expand its frontiers, the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA)said it would in 2020 involve the Local Government Council Chairmen when travelling abroad for its trade mission to enable them negotiate directly with potential investors to stimulate the state economy.
The President of the chamber, Chief Nabil Saleh stated this during the exhibition day of Ikwerre, Okrika and Tai Local Government Areas in the just concluded PHCCIMA International Trade Fair held at Obi Wali Conference Centre, Port Harcourt.
He made it clear that trade fair has progressed from buying and selling to innovation and invention and so need to partner with the grassroot leaders for development purpose.
PHCCIMA has a catalyst to development will turn your agricultural produce to industrialized products with its attendant revenue generation and this will no doubt support the state government developmental efforts` he stated.
Hon. (Dr) Jacobson Nbina, Executive Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Chief Philimon Kingoli, Executive Chairman of Okrika LGA and Hon (Engr) Samuel Nwanosike, Executive Chairman of lkwerre LGA were all given the opportunity to inform the audience about their council areas. Their respective land mass, occupation, population, natural resources, potientials and challenges.
Dr Nbina said Tai LGA needed infrastructural development and industrialization to employ teeming unemployed youths.
Hon Kingoli said his people of Okrika most importantly would need investors who would not only help the predominantly Okrika fisherman to preserve their fish but support them in acquiring modern fishing equipment and technologies including speed boat. The Ikwere LG boss, Hon Samuel Nwanosike use the opportunity to assure potential investors that criminal elements who used to have a base in their forest have been flushed out, making it safe for investors to come and invest in the area. He also appealed to Gov Wike to give priority attention to the resuscitation of the Airport Hotel, Omagwa, and Delta Rubber Company to boost their tourism potentials and revenue base as the only LGA with an International Airport.
Thereafter the local government councils show- cased their individual cultural, agricultural and industrial potentials which were later inspected by members of the high table “OVO“ traditional dance group of Okrika performed for their LG, “isorere“ cultural dance group of Tai performed for their LGA while “Ochialiri wrestling group Omanwa, performed for Ikwerre LGA to add colour to the event-packed trade fair.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Certificates of Participation to the local government as well as the inspection of some of the stands by the dignitaries present. Among them were PHCCIMA president, Chief Saleh, first deputy president, Eze Sir Mike Elechi, second deputy president, Mrs Chinyere Nwogu and chairman, Civil Service Commission, chief Barr Oris Onyiri, Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee, Pst. Uche Onochie as well as political leaders of the local government areas.
