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By Madu Obi
The Anambra government has conducted a validation exercise on the draft master plan for the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City expected to come on stream soon.
The master plan is a concept which will ensure harmonious integration of the various sectors of the economy and catalyze the industrial agenda as envisioned by the state government.
The key components of the master plan include Entertainment, Recreational and Leisure Zone; Non Processing Zone (Residential); Financial District and Services Sector; Solar Park, Railway Siding Facilities and Logistics Hub; as well as Automotives and Motor Vehicles Assembly Zone.
Others are Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone; Textile and Leather Products Processing Zone; Domestic Tariff Area and MSMEs; Chemical and Pharmacy Zone; Export Emporium, among others.
The state Commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udechukwu said plans had reached an advanced stage for the groundbreaking of the project later this year.
Udechukwu said the governor would organize a larger session to present the finalized document to the public as soon as possible.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Production Agency, ANSIPPA, Mr. Mark Okoye, said in Awka that stakeholders are on ground to strengthen public/private partnership on the Mixed-Use Industrial City project.
According to Okoye, the partnership would ensure that all sectors of the economy in Anambra State were fully mapped to meet international best standards.
He commended stakeholders that include community leaders, the private sector, academia, and the media for their rich and diverse inputs into the project.
Okoye said the project would explore a number of financing sources, including the African Export-Import Bank which were already partners, while discussions were ongoing with African Development Bank, AfDB, and other development finance institutions to participate in the project.
Chief Executive Officer of Artella Consulting Engineers Limited, C.S. Narayanan, who are consultants to the project has already presented the draft master plan and detailed feasibility study of the project.
Narayanan also gave holistic details of the processes, which led to the development concept, highlighting extensive consultations with stakeholders and multilateral financing institutions.
On his part, Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, Director General of Onitsha Business School said every development project should be designed to impact the lives of citizens positively.
Sogbesan, who commended the state government's approach to the industrial city's development, said those in charge should ensure they incorporate measures that would have human development impact.
He said there should be commitment to the execution, financing, environmental impacts, and opportunities for private sector involvement in the project.
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