President Goodluck Jonathan has approved
the establishment a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Enugu to serve the South
East, the state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Jude
Akubuilo, said on Tuesday.
Akubuilo said the president gave the approval in April.
He said that the FTZ, to be located
at the Ninth mile corner in Enugu metropolis, would have 402 hectares of
land and another 16.8 hectares at the Akanu Ibiam International
Airport.
The commissioner said that Gov. Sullivan Chime worked hard to secure the approval.
“We are waiting for the licence backing
the approval and we are optimistic that it will come before the end of
May. If you bring in goods and it is cleared and taken to the zone, an
enhancement will be done to those goods, you will almost get them tax
free.
“The industrial activities in the state
will be astronomical because everybody who owns a factory in Nnewi,
Onitsha, Orba, Nsukka, Ebonyi, Aba will be clamouring to have their
factories in the zone.
“Jobs will be created, improved
infrastructures, enhanced road network, enhanced rail activities will be
enjoyed in the state,’’ Akubuilo said.
He appealed to the incoming APC-led
administration to support the development of the trade zone to enhance
the nation’s economy and lives of people in the area.
The FTZ scheme was evolved to
strategically improve investment climate in Nigeria, by stimulating
export oriented business activities through the strengthening of
strategic national economic policies.
It is to streamline administrative approval processes and provide a one-stop-shop service for businesses.
The target is to also create an enabling
environment for the growth and development of export-oriented goods in
the non-oil sector of the economy. (NAN)
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