The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has held its July Members General Forum on Thursday 27th July at the Chamber Secretariat in Port Harcourt.
In his welcome remarks, the Chamber President, Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM, DSSRS, FNIM, JP expressed his delight to warmly welcome the crowd of both old and new members who were present at the general forum and his profound appreciation for their valued contributionsand support within the one and half years of his administration. Eze Elechi posited that that his administration was achieving its set objectives due to the members support and promised to collaboratively work together to take the Chamber to another milestone of higher height and visibility. He stressed the need for members to attend the Members General Forum which he described as a platform for convergence of the Chamber members and partners for networking and ideas sharing on selected business topics that will contribute positively to their business growth and expansion. The Chamber President also took the opportunity to mention some key Chamber activities held after the last general meeting.
The Keynote presentation on “Developing a Vibrant MSME Sector in Nigeria” was delivered by the South-South Regional Coordinator of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Engr. Egbuna Iloba while the second presentation by NEXIM Bank was rescheduled for another forum due to the absence of the Regional Manager of the Bank located in Calabar.
Key highlight of the Members General Forum was the induction of fifteen (15) new members into the Chamber membership.
Speaking during the induction ceremony, the Chamber President, Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM, DSSRS, FNIM, JP expressed gladness while welcoming the new members into the Chamber, explained that one of the key objectives of his administration was to grow and expand the membership strength of the Chamber ” one of the three broad objectives of my administration is to grow and expand membership strength of the Chamber, our gathering here today is a testimony that PHCCIMA is growing and expanding progressively as we are already achieving our objectives. We are welcoming and inducting these quality persons representing 15 highly reputable companies from different sectors across the state into our premier and prestigious chamber” he said.
Sir Elechi who is the Managing Director of Vintage Farms and Products Ltd maintained that “PHCCIMA since it’s establishment about 66years ago has been meeting her objectives and completely committed to meeting the interests of members by helping them grow and diversify their Businesses, PHCCIMA is the mouthpiece of the organized private sector in Rivers State and as the umbrella body of business community and as a member of the “Rivers State Ease of Doing Business Council”, we are ensuring the implementation of good policies of government geared towards ease of doing business in the state and promoting public and private sector partnership to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state”, he added.
The PHCCIMA Boss noted that the Chamber under his watch is dedicated to upholding the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Rivers State government as well as the PHCCIMA consititution, hence his charged on the newly inducted members to uphold the code of ethics and respect all laws and the constitution of the Chamber therein just as he urged the new members to avail themselves the opportunity of joining trade groups that are relevant to their trade or profession and actively participate in all set-out programmes which according to him is the engine room of growth and development of the Chamber.
Responding on behalf of other inductees, Mr. Tosin Adeleye who represented the Managing Director of La Sien Bottling Company Limited, Dr. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs thanked Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) for finding his company and others worthy to be inducted into the Organization and promised to keep to the code of ethics and the constitution of the Chambers.
Mr Adeleye added that La Sien Bottling Company Ltd has denominated the street of Port Harcourt, showcasing the possiblity of doing global business from Port Harcourt to other parts of the world, adding that their induction into the Chamber is a new beginning for the Company to make advancement just as he said that his Company will make good use of the Chamber platform.
Other dignitaries present at the event were the 2nd Deputy President, Hon. Prince Charles Beke, NPOM, Treasurer, Surveyor Emmanuel Ogbonda, FCAI, Publicity Secretary, Pastor Uche Onochie, Members Welfare Secretary, Chief Godwin Etim, Past Presidents; Prince Dr. Billy Sotubo Gillis-Harry, Dr. Engr. Emeka Unachukwu, FSM, Elected Council members; Chief Amb. Emeka Ezekwe, Amb. Mrs. Florence Nwosibe and Amb. Clement Akanibo, Chairmen of various Trade Groups; Hospitality & Tourism, Dr. O. I. Ezenekwe, Economic & Commercial, Dr. Maraizu Uche, Manufacturing, Chief Henry Wordu Representative of the Hon. Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Mr. Emmanuel C. Nwankwo, PHCCIMA partners, the South-South Regional Coordinators of NEPC, SMEDAN and State Manager of RMRDC, the Director General, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda, Staff and Pressmen as shown in the picture gallery above.
