Take a close look at how airports affect the economic growth and development of cities and regions. The world’s airlines according to latest statistics , carry over three billion passengers a year and 50 million tonnes of freight. Providing these services generates 9.9 million direct jobs within the air transport industry and contributes $664.4 billion to global GDP.

So in order to  achieve its full potentials and expand  the Frontiers of Excellence , the importance of aviation in Anambra state cannot be over emphasiesd.

Hence , the executive governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano during the flag off the Umueri International Cargo Airport Project last year said ,

“What we are flagging off today is an Airport City Project with a model that will accommodate an airport with two runways, an aviation fuel dump, an airport hotel, an industrial business park, an international convention centre as well as a facility for aircraft maintenance. The Umueri airport city project is conceived to join some of the most advanced airports in the world with a capacity to land any of the most sophisticated vessels known to man today. It sits on 1500 hectares of land with enough elbowroom for expansion from Ivite Umueri to neighbouring communities such as Nando, Umunya, Otuocha, Aguleri, Nteje, Nsugbe and beyond.

“The project is estimated to cost over 2 billion US Dollars. It is a partnership between the Government of Anambra State, Orient Petroleum Resources Limited and Elite International Investments Limited (Sinoking Enterprises Limited).”

Under the contractual agreement, Elite International Investments Limited will provide all the funds needed for the project under the Build-Operate-Manage-and-Transfer arrangement. However under the same SPV arrangement, the Anambra Airport City Infrastructure Limited has allocated 75% equity stake to Elite International Investments Limited, 20% to Oreint Petroleum Resources Limited and 5% to the Government of Anambra State. The host communities are entitled to 3% of the profit from this project in perpetuity as a part of the standard corporate social responsibility.”

Indeed, the economic benefits of the Umueri Airport City Project are enormous. It is expected to generate 1,200 direct and 3600 indirect jobs.  The project will have a tremendous impact on the ease of doing business in Anambra State as it opens a direct access by air to our vast markets.

The Umueri Airport City Project would also wipe out the difficulties our businessmen and women often encounter in exporting and importing goods and services and help in improving the entire supply chain .