The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has again inducted another set of new members into the organization as well as unveiled a compendium of the activities of the Chamber since its incorporation and Rivers State Investor’s Guide.
In his speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) Eze, Sir Mike Elechi (JP) expressed satisfaction that his vision of running an all inclusive administration was yielding positive results, as the monthly general forum of the Chamber has continued to gather momentum, saying that the forum gives members opportunities to interface with one another, exchange business ideas and make new friends while networking.
The Chamber President who is the Managing Director of Vintage Farms and Product, posited that August in retrospect was loaded with so many activities including the well attended ‘POWER-TO-POWER’ business summit that was held at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt where major stakeholders and eminent personalities from all walks of lives participated in the event and used the medium to commend the Chairman of Power and Energy Trade Group of the Chamber, Engr. Tony Nwogbo led committee for the success of the event, adding that within the month under review, the Chamber acquired a new 30kva Gen. Set to power its operations, and also received a high powered delegation led by the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Stanislas Kamanzi where robust business ideas were discussed and the Chamber secured an opportunity to lead a delegation of 50 members on a trade mission to Rwanda.
The Chamber President, Eze Elechi in his induction speech charged the new members to see their induction as not only an opportunity to widened the scope of their businesses but also make contributions by attracting investors for the even development of Rivers State, adding that the copy of the compendium which chronicled activities of the Chamber will serve as a guide to anyone doing business and those wishing to do business in Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the topic; ‘the role of non-oil Export in Economic Development in the South South region, the Regional Coordinator of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mr. Joe Itah called for diversification into the non-oil Export sector to save the country from imminent collapse, saying that Nigeria as a country is naturally blessed with abundant potentials apart from the crude oil and gas, he expressed the hope that talking with PHCCIMA which is the leader of the organize private sector in Rivers State remained the best opportunity for the required attention.
He maintained that NEPC is Constitutionally empowered with the responsibilities of coordinating, regulating and encouraging business owners to register their businesses and export their products to earn the much needed foreign exchange.
The NEPC regional coordinator further hinted that their organization has assisted some small scale business owners that were affected during the Covid-19 era to return back to business.
Giving hint on the untapped business opportunities in Rivers State, the Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic party(SDP), Senator Magnus Ngei Abe who was at the Chamber members forum at the instance of his Deputy, Chief Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya, said that Rivers State has all it takes to replicate the Arria-Arria market in Aba, Abia State where millions of Rivers youths could have opportunities to either learn trade or get themselves gainfully employed.
Abe regretted that the dilapidated state of Onne axis of East West road has driven out a lot of companies out of Rivers State, hence the opportunity to rewrite the history of Rivers State by electing credible leaders with the zeal and good conscience of restoring the lost glory the state come next year general election.
High point of the Chamber August members monthly general forum held on Wednesday 31st day of August, 2022 at the Chamber’s Secretariat Aba road in Port Harcourt was the unveiling and lunching of the PHCCIMA’s compendium.
Other key members of the Chamber in attendance were the Exco members who presented membership certificates to the newly inducted members in turns, the 2nd Deputy President, Hon. Prince Charles Osimibeke, Treasurer, Surveyor Emmanuel Ogbonda, Financial Secretary, Sir Dan Harrison, Members Welfare Secretary, Chief, Engr. Godwin Etim, Past President, Dr. Engr. Emeka Unachukwu who performed the swearing in of the new members and presented the Chamber plaque of recognition to the NEPC Regional Coordinator Mr. Joe Itah, Director of Commerce and representative of the Permanent Secretary Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Emmanuel Nwankwo who also took his turn to present membership certificate tonew member, Director and representative of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Collins Nathaniel, State Coordinator of Nigerian Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Mrs. Oby Agbam, South South Regional Coordinator Nigerian Shippers Council, Chief Glory Onojedo, Elected Council members, Mr. Okey Odu and Chief Emeka Ezekwe, various Trade Group Chairmen former Publicity Secretaries of the Chamber, Pst. Oluwatoyin Alabi and Dr. Mrs. Mercy Abu, distinguished members, guests, pressmen, the Director General Mr. Erasmus Chukunda and Staff of the Chamber as shown in the above photo gallery.
