The Enugu Chamber of
Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy for the development of the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex might not be viable.
The Director-General of the chamber, Mr Emeka Okereke, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Enugu, recently.
Okereke expressed regret that 14 years after laying the foundation stone for the development of the permanent site of the complex by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the project had yet to receive the attention of the Federal Government.
“We are in support of anything that can be done to develop the permanent site of the Enugu International Trade Fair 14 years after the foundation stone was laid.
“However, we are also putting a rider to the idea of PPP because it can work in something like road infrastructure.
“But it may not work in something like trade fair complex that is meant for promotion of business.
“Imagine if I put up a pavilion in that trade fair complex and I say within 10 years I need to recover my money. I might decide to be charging N100,000 per square metre.
“Who can afford it among the SMIs and the idea of doing the trade fair will be defeated. That is where we are having some challenges.
“However, our position still remains that the Federal Government should look at this as a priority critical facility that would support and boost economic growth especially in this our clime that is SME-driven.“
Okereke, however, expressed the hope that the Federal Government would give attention to the project soon just as it did to those of Lagos and Kaduna states.