The President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM, JP, FNIM, DSSRS has received the new South South regional coordinator of Nigeria Export Promotion Council NEPC, Ach. Benedict Itegbe.
The President described PHCCIMA and NEPC as major partners in business development noting that the presentation of the roles of NEPC by the new South South Regional Coordinator are in line with the mantra of the Chamber which has been on how to promote SMEs, adding that the Chamber has good partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The PHCCIMA Boss urged the new NEPC Coordinator not to give attention to the negative stories of insecurity in Rivers State, saying that business activities are going on well unhindered in the state, hence he should go on with his numerous business ideas on how to improve the non oil sector of the economy.
Earlier in his speech, the New South South Regional Coordinator of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Arch. Benedict Itegbe said that the mandate of the agancy is on how to diversify the economy from much dependants on crude oil to other sectors of the economy especially Agriculture, Processing and Manufacturing industries.
He maintained that PHCCIMA is a critical stakeholder in economic development and requested for a committee comprising all trade group just as he said that PHCCIMA should be a member of State Export Strategy Committee, an initiative aimed at developing SMEs, adding that they have partnership with World Bank in accessing loan to support Business Development.
The new NEPC Regional Coordinator who was accompanied to the visit by an Assistant Director of NEPC office in Port Harcourt, Mrs. Evelyn Kobo emphasised on the improvement approach to investors, research and modernization, robust trade policy and transparency in ecosystems.
Highpoint of the familiarization visit was the presentation of a souvenir to the new Regional Coordinator of NEPC by the Chamber President. Other valued Executive members of the Chamber present were the Treasurer, Surveyor Emmanuel Ogbonda, FCAI, Elected Council Member and Chairman of the Chamber Trade Missions, Amb. Mrs. Florence Nwosibe Igbeaku, a Media Executive and the Managing Director of Modal Associates Ltd, Dr. Monima Daminabo, the Chamber Director General, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda, the Deputy Director General, Mr. Philip Obiandu and the Press Secretary, Mr. Joseph Asomeji as shown in the above pictures gallery.
