PHCCIMA President, Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, NPOM, JP, FNIM, DSSRS on Tuesday 13th February led the Chamber Exco and Leaders of other Organized Private Sector Organizations on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of Rivers State Micro-Finance Agency (RIMA) Pastor Jonathan Tobin to discuss ways of partnering with the Rivers State Government Agency in disbursing the N4bn RVSG-BOI Loan facility for businesses in the State.
The Chamber President whose administration’s three fundamental areas of focus included, “Creation of Members’ Oriented and Inclusive Programmes and Opportunities” highlighted the need for inclusion of MSMEs and SMEs of the various OPS member business organizations in accessing and benefiting from the RVSG-BOI loan facility for growth and expansion of their businesses. The President on behalf of all the five OPS organizations also congratulated the MD of RIMA, Pastor Jonathan Tobin on his recent appointment and pledged the support of the Chamber and all the OPS member business organizations towards his successful tenure as the Managing Director of RIMA.
In his welcome remarks, RIMA Managing Director, Pastor Jonathan Tobin expressed his delight for the visit and outlined the various categories and requirements for accessing the loan, and explained that the loan facility was not only for Traders but also for legitimate operating businesses in all sectors of the economy except Startups. He stated that the tenor of the loan will run for 3months or 6months, 1year or 2years depending on the category of the loan and that the loan will attract a single digit interest rate of 7.5% per annum which can also be revolved to a higher category upon full repayment of the first loan amount. And responding to the request made by the President that the Chamber and the other OPS organizations were ready to partner with his Agency in profiling and presenting their members’ loan applications for final verification and approval by RIMA, the RIMA MD accepted his request and assured him of the partnership of his Agency in ensuring that only genuine and operating businesses received the loans. In his practical drive and determination to match his words with actions, the MD of RIMA released the soft and hard copies of the simplified 3 paged RVSG-BOI FUND – Loan Application Form to the Chamber President for distribution to the Chamber and OPS legitimate and operating member businesses interested in the loan for completion, classification, profiling and presentation to RIMA for final verification and approval of the loan applications and for disbursement. He explained that though the loan applications will be considered on individual basis he would count on the reputation of PHCCIMA to receive genuine applications from legitimate member businesses and thanked them for the visit.
PHCCIMA President and Leader of the delegation presented a copy of the Chamber Corporate Profile and Compendium of Rivers State Investors Guide to the Managing Director of RIMA. Other Exco members present were the 2nd Deputy President, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Elected Council members, Chairmen of SMEs & NGOs and Financial Services Trade Groups, Chairmen of MAN, NECA, NASSI and NASME, the Chamber Director General, Deputy Director General and Business Development Office as shown in the pictures gallery.
