The Governor says the Project is part of the fullfilment of his promise to expand the frontiers of Excellence.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state says that the State has finally hit the bend in the river as it is now a compelling investment destination.
Governor Obiano made this assertion yesterday at the official flag off of Anambra Airport city Project, in Umueri, Anambra east local government area.
The Governor recalled that he had delivered an inaugural Address entitled Expanding the Frontiers of Excellence which according to him has resulted to the step of flagging off of the Airport city project.
Delivering an Address at the occasion, the Governor stated that by the current project in Umueri community, his administration has attracted investments valued at over 7.2 billion dollars to the state.
"it is important to note that my Team and I have got a few things right in the past three years. Against all expectations and at a time of great economic recession, we have established our beloved state as a compelling investment destination and with this airport city project, the figure now stands at 7.2 billion US Dollars. We have also successfully placed Anambra on the agricultural map and blazed a trail with the exportation of our farm produce to the UK"
According him, the Project with a model that will accommodate an airport with two runways, an aviation fuel dump, an airport hotel, an industrial business park, an international convention centre as well as a facility for aircraft maintenance, is conceived to join some of the most advanced airports in the world with a capacity to land any of the most sophisticated vessels known to man today.
"It sits on 1500 hectares of land with enough elbowroom for expansion from Ivite Umueri to neighbouring communities such as Nando, Umunya, Otuocha, Aguleri, Nteje, Nsugbe and beyond. The project is estimated to cost over 2 billion US Dollars. It is a partnership between the Government of Anambra State, Orient Petroleum Resources Limited and Elite International Investments Limited (Sinoking Enterprises Limited)"
Under the contractual agreement, Elite International Investments Limited will provide all the funds needed for the project under the Build-Operate-Manage-and-Transfer arrangement. However under the same SPV arrangement, the Anambra Airport City Infrastructure Limited has allocated 75% equity stake to Elite International Investments Limited, 20% to Oreint Petroleum Resources Limited and 5% to the Government of Anambra State. The host communities are entitled to 3% of the profit from this project in perpetuity as a part of the standard corporate social responsibility.
He maintained that the economic benefits of the Umueri Airport City Project are enormous and such expected to generate 1,200 direct and 3600 indirect jobs expressing hope that it will have a tremendous impact on the ease of doing business in Anambra State as it tends to open a direct access by air to our vast markets.
"We expect that Ndi Anambra will grab 70% of these jobs in continuation of our efforts to create wealth and prosperity for our people. It will also provide an opportunity for training and skills transfer to our people. In particular, I hope that on completion, the Umueri Airport City Project will wipe out the difficulties our businessmen and women often encounter in exporting and importing goods and services and help in improving the entire supply chain".
Governor Obiano explained that government has established a strong synergy between Orient Petroleum Resources Plc and the Airport project with a view to operating an Aviation Fuel Segment that will attract both local and foreign airlines to refuel their aircraft in Umueri this he said will no doubt open a new economic corridor for Anambra state to stimulate growth in the oil and gas sector and multiply our revenue sources.
"Ndi Anambra, our beloved state is fast opening its doors to the world. Let us join hands and welcome the benefits that knock on our collective door".
Comments
Post a Comment