Abia Woos Investors As Deputy Gov, Emetu Heads Ease Of Doing Business Council

To demonstrate its seriousness with business and build investor confidence, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, on Tuesday, inaugurated the State Council on ease of doing business made up of 11 members of the State Executive Council and headed by Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed  journalists that the move aimed to reposition the state away from rhetorics to a concrete action in the ease of doing business protocol to build the confidence of investors.

According to him, the governor “Took a major step in his bid to reposition Abia state through reforming the state’s business environment to provide optimum services for investors and to give them confidence about doing business in Abia state.

“Abia State government,” he further explained, “has adopted the State’s Business Enabling Reform Action Plan (BERAP) 2024 ,while also approving the 2023 Business Enabling Reform Action Plan BERAP progress report”

He named the members of the council chaired by the Deputy Governor, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu to include; Commissioners for Trade, Commerce and Industry Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, Budget and Planning, Kingsley Anosike, Justice, Barr Ikechukwu Uwanna, Digital Economy and SME, Mr Matthew Ekwuribe, Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumereije, Information and Culture , Prince Okey Kanu as well as the Principal Secretary to the Governor/ Chief Strategy Officer, Mr Chinenye Mba- Uzoukwu. Others are, the Special Adviser on Security, Cmdr.Macdonald Ubah ( rtd.) while the Senior Special Assistant on Ease of Doing Business, Barr Agbonma Ukaobasi will serve as the Council’s secretary.

Prince Kanu also disclosed that Abia’s position in Climate Change ranking has been enhanced as the State is now eight out of 36 states in climate change ranking.

He explained that the ranking was based on certain indices based on government initiatives on climate change issues such as the number of climate change, commitment to and development of climate change policies and online media visibility, among others.