A’Ibom Pledges Support For Investors, Others

From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
In an effort to boost industrialization in the state, Akwa Ibom State government has reiterated its readiness to partner and support local investors and entrepreneurs to actualize this dream.
Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP), Dr. Elijah Akpan gave this indication while playing host to the management of Master Plan Innovative Industries Ltd, (MPII), a plastic waste recycling establishment in his office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
He noted that because the small and medium enterprise (SMES) is the vehicle that drive any economy the state government was doing everything possible to encourage its growth.
The AKICORP chief, who was represented by AKICORP Executive Directors, Mr. Imo Abasi Jacob, described the project as environment friendly, which is in line with government commitment to create jobs and wealth via industrialization.
He said government was excited about the project and eager to ensure that it and other SMEs flourish in the state, maintaining that creating jobs for the teeming population is the focus of the administration.
Chairman of the company, Pastor Victor Uko Abasi, said the company was a plastic waste recycling plant and a waste-to-wealth initiative.
In her presentation, the company’s Managing Director, Mrs. Susan Uko Abasi, said the company was created to impact not only her immediate environs but the state at large and noted that the use of polythene as packaging bags was already putting pressure on the sources of raw material for its manufacture, hence the need to recycle to sustain the industry.
Mrs. Uko Abasi, who represented Udo Abasi and enumerated the company’s programmes to include creating direct employment for about 200 youths and women in production, marketing and administration, said many more will be engaged as auxiliary staff in getting pure water sachets, thereby bringing employment to 1,000 people.
According to her, the problem associated with poly products waste that have been a source of nightmare to government as they block drainages thereby causing floods and erosion.
She added that this would become a thing of the past while there would be a balance in the ecosystem by the removal of wastes that were not environment friendly and a reduction in crime rate, as many crimes committed were traceable to unemployment.