Council Evolves Strategy For Industrial Growth

The National Council of State Commerce and Industry (NCSCI) has evolved a new strategy aimed at enhancing the performance of Nigerian industries as well as encourage and promote investment in the country.

Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Prince Ogbonna Nwuke, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on his arrival from a meeting of the council in Kano.

Prince Nwuke said that far-reaching decisions had been taken on how to depoliticise the siting of industries, pointing out that henceforth, any new industry would be situated nearest to source of material to ensure sustenance.

According to him, a master plan has been drawn for the creation of better environment for business investment by indigenous investors, saying that such ventures would not longer be left in the hands of foreign investors.

“Our position now is that since industries left with foreign investors collapse after a short period of time, such business ventures will be sited where there is comparative advantage to meet the 2020 Vision target”, he stressed.

Calling on the federal government to work out modalities that would support the plan of the council in fast-tracking the industrial growth of the nation, the commerce and industry commissioner noted with dismay the sudden collapse of industries in the country.

He said that with the involvement of the private sector in business investment, there is the hope that “our  industries would succeed” and solicited the commitment and support of stakeholders in the industrial sector.

Shedie Okpara