Meanwhile, as we have continue to wait, we have designed 5 exhibition halls for different sectors, to be developed using private sector funding. Our aim is to make this complex the best center for international exhibitions and trade fairs in Nigeria. This we are vigorously pursuing by starting with the development of Manufacturing Sector Exhibition hall which his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State will perform the ground breaking ceremony. We therefore call on every one here to join force with ECCIMA to make this complex, the number one exhibition complex in Nigeria. Your donations, contributions, support will remain a legacy in perpetuity.

However, may I still use this opportunity on behalf of Council and members of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce as well as the entire South East and South South business community, to once more appeal to the Federal Government to set aside adequate fund for direct award of contract to a competent contractor to complete the development of the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex just as was done in Kaduna and Lagos.

Your Excellency, Hon Minister, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt that Trade Fairs offer great opportunities for industrialists, investors, buyers and sellers to interact, exchange business ideas, and share experiences for investment promotion and general economic growth. ECCIMA is determined to sustain this effort and to continue to improve the standards.

The theme of this year’s Fair as thoughtfully chosen is “Promoting Made in Nigeria Products for Global Competitiveness”.

The reality of our current economic challenges in the country as result of the dwindling revenue from our mono foreign exchange earner, which is oil, calls for concerted efforts towards diversifying our nation’s economy. Hence, the need to promote made in Nigeria products in the Global market to attract foreign interest, increase export of none oil products and then offset our foreign exchange deficit, cannot be over emphasized. Local production and promotion of our locally made goods is the most important song to be signing now, until we restore the glory/value of Naira as well as our national economy.

It is the right time for both the Public and Private Sectors to seriously and meaningfully engage each other in removing the bureaucratic bottlenecks and over regulations by government agencies to support the growth of the Small and Medium Enterprises.

No economy grows when its SMEs are not performing. Growth of SMEs has positive relation with GDP growth and every emphasis in Nigeria should be on creating very supportive environment for SMEs which remains undoubtedly, the bedrock of Nigerian economic growth.

Consequently therefore, it is the right time to see ourselves as partners in progress and close up the gaps in our relationship between the Private Sector and the Public Sector. The suspicion and perception of we and them should give way for the common good of the nation. Government must get the private sector involved in economic policy formulation and planning.

On that note, we call on the Federal Government and its agencies created to support the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to closely work together with the Organised Private Sector to fill the gap relating to provision of collaterals and other related issues hindering the accessibility of credit by this sector in other to unleash the development of this critical sector of the economy.