German Ambassador hails Gov. Ugwuanyi on Road Construction; prompt payment of Workers’ Salaries; Paris Club Refund Disbursement; successful hosting of the meeting of South East/South South Governors, among others.
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The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Bernhard Schlagheck today applauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his administration’s remarkable achievements across all sector of the economy, especially in the areas of roads construction and prompt payment of workers’ salaries, which he said was “not common in Nigeria”.
Amb. Schlagheck also hailed Gov. Ugwuanyi for the transparent manner his administration handled the disbursement of the first tranche of the Paris Club Refund. He equally commended the Governor for the successful hosting of the recent meeting of the governors of South East and South South in Enugu under the present dispensation, “with the intention of strengthening regional cooperation”, describing the meeting as “the first of its kind”.
The German Ambassador who made the commendations during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu on his first official visit to the state, disclosed that he was in Enugu on a tour of the South East region of Nigeria to have a firsthand information of the development in the zone as well as the recent achievements in Enugu State. He expressed delight at the warm reception accorded him, saying that the gesture confirms the relationship between the South East and the Federal Republic of Germany.
In his address, Gov. Ugwuanyi thanked the Ambassador for deeming it fit to visit the South East region at this time, especially the visit to Enugu “as the administrative, political and cultural headquarters of the region having served as the capital of former Eastern Region, East Central State, old Anambra State, old Enugu State and remains the capital of the current Enugu State.”
The governor who expressed profound gratitude to the German Ambassador for recognizing some of the numerous salient achievements his administration has recorded so far, despite the severe economic challenges, said that the government was “fully committed to the sustenance of an environment that is conducive for businesses and other developmental initiatives in the state especially through our continuous investments in such critical areas as security, infrastructural development, environmental improvement, expansion and regularisation of social services etc”.
The governor added that the state has undeniably enjoyed a long history of interaction and cooperation with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through her diplomatic mission in Nigeria and some of her aid agencies, adding the visit “certainly offers us an ample opportunity to build a stronger and mutually beneficial working relationship with your Country”.
“Accordingly, we will be very eager to share ideas and partner with your office on issues of development especially those that pertain to German engagement in Enugu State. This is even more imperative in the light of our current efforts to engage new development partners and attract direct foreign investments to our state.
“We have also put in place, necessary legislations, institutional frameworks, favourable tax regime and special incentives that would make it easier and more convenient for the operation of businesses in Enugu. Currently, we have on the block for commercialisation or privatization, over 17 potentially lucrative State -owned companies and industries dealing in diverse areas of business and production.
“As your Excellency may know, Enugu State is also richly endowed with natural and human resources that offer copious investment opportunities in Agriculture and Agro-Allied Enterprises and in the extraction and processing of such minerals as Coal, limestone, clay, oil, gas etc all of which are found in very abundant quantities in the state.
“The presence of an international (passenger and cargo) airport and the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Enugu as well as the urbanisation initiatives of the government, provide a further boost to the economic potentials and profile of the state.
“We therefore seek the assistance of your Embassy to enlighten and sensitize genuine business organisations in Germany as to these opportunities and to also, facilitate their entry into Enugu State as investors.
“Beside this, we solicit the direct assistance of your Country, in the development of some areas of the state’s economy such as education, healthcare, agriculture and security (through training and provision of modern communication equipment and other gadgets).
“We want to assure you of the safety, viability and sustainability of any commitment or investment that the Federal Republic of Germany or organisations from the country, may choose to make in Enugu State”, Gov. Ugwuanyi stated.
