By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo.
A group of investors from USA, China and Taiwan have indicated interest to bring in their resources to revitalize abandoned and moribund companies in Akwa Ibom State, describing the state as strategic for investments.
These companies include the Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company in Oku-Iboku and the Export Processing Zone in Ikot Abasi both located in the State.
Coming under the aegis of phonix group led by chiu-ling wang, president international affairs phonix group who toured various abandoned and moribund industrial sites in the state assured that the revitalization of the moribund Nigeria Newsprint and Investment in the Export processing zone remains priority in their heart.
“We will bring resources from all over the world to ensure that these investments are properly kick started to serve the public and make profit.
“We will do our best for the country and Akwa Ibom State, we will return within 30-90 days with all we need to kick start the turning around of these industries and will pick more areas of investment when the first two succeeds” said Chiu-Ling Wang.
Also speaking the facilitator of the investors visit and tour of the state and chairman Gestrics group Limited, Dr. Chris Ekpenyong noted that Akwa Ibom State is blessed with a lot of solid minerals and yearning for investors to come and leverage on them.
Dr. Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of the state explained that Governor Udom Emmanuel is keen about industrializing the state which prompted his commitment towards ensuring the success of the Governor’s vision for the state.
According to Dr. Ekpenyong “I have seen a man with vision and one desirous of industrializing our state, I want to thank the governor for encouraging the coming of the phonix group to take a study of where to invest in Akwa Ibom State.
“We have various discussions to develop a realistic framework on how to move the desired investments opportunities forward and they have keyed into the EPZ zone in Ikot Abasi and the NNMC in Oku Iboku”.
“While they progress in revitalizing these ones, who will move ahead and get them invest in many others, my company Gestric group is the facilitator of their visit in collaboration with the foreign Direct Investment office of the state”.
The former Deputy Governor highlighted, “we have defined our responsibilities and goals. We are to offer the local content to phonix group to help them develop their business successfully in Akwa Ibom State.
They have agreed to commence work within 30-90 days from now. The office of the foreign Direct Investment of the state has asked us to collaborate to ensure the success of their coming to invest in the state as a co-promoter of the investment drive.
On his own, the Special Adviser to Governor Emmanuel on Foreign Direct Investment, Mr. Gabriel Ukpe said the coming of the Phonix Group is the beginning of the long beneficial relationship between the state and the international investors.
He expressed gratitude to the Gestric group led by Dr. Chris Ekpenyong for their commitment in bringing in investors to explore various opportunities in the state.
