Imo Allocates Land to Afreximbank for Quality Assurance Centre
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has received the certificate of occupancy for a five-hectare plot of land granted to it by the government of Imo State, for the development of an internationally accredited quality assurance centre in the state.
Afreximbank is supporting the establishment of such internationally accredited African Quality Assurance Centres (AQACs) across Africa to support the continent’s industrialisation, by ensuring that African products are manufactured to international standards and are able to trade in international market.
A statement explained that the project seeks to raise the confidence of importers in African products and to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of “Made-in-Africa” products.
The Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, who presented the certificate of occupancy to Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, at Owerri, recently, pledged the commitment of the government and people of the state to seeing to the successful execution of the project.
Ihedioha, said the state planned to take full advantage of the opportunities that would be created by the project, which, he noted was coming at a time when the state had resolutely embarked on a transformation programme through industrialisation.
He listed some of the other projects being executed by the government to include the completion of cargo facilities at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, and the setting up of an industrial park.
In his response, Oramah thanked the government and people of Imo state for the parcel of land granted to the Bank and said the AQAC would generate new employment opportunities in the state.
Oramah, said the project was aimed at addressing the key barriers affecting trade in Africa by strengthening compliance with international trade standards and with the technical requirements of export markets.
He pledged that Afreximbank would work with African governments and sub-sovereigns committed to making the lives of their people better and was ready to work with the Imo state government on the development of some of the projects it was pursuing, including the dry port, which would open the state.