THE OUTCOMES OF GOV.OKEZIE IKPEAZU’S SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES, Written by Okezie Odoemelam

Although the recent investment Mission by the Abia State
Governor Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to the United States of
America has come and gone, the full significance of its outcomes
will linger for generations to come.


Trade and investment mission is an international trip by
Government officials and business people that is organized by
agencies of national or state governments for purpose of
exploring International business opportunities.

Government
officials and business people who attend trade and investment
missions are typically introduced both to important business
contacts and to well-placed government officials.


A trade and investment mission is a way in which countries,
states or organizations can seek out potential investors or buyers
and sellers.

 Trade and investment missions will usually occur
after one party has undergone significant market research. In
short, trade and investment mission is a trip that is designed to
transport government of a developing economy and its business
executives into a foreign business environment to achieve
International business relationship.

 It is a known fact that like the
phoenix, Ndigbo rose from the ashes of the Civil War to reclaim
their position as the pillars of commerce and trade in Nigeria
through a robust sprouting of outstanding entrepreneurship in the
industrial and trading outpost of Aba the Enyimba City in Abia
State.

The once acclaimed Igbo ingenuity that manifested in the
flourishing of manufactured goods in the seventies that were aptly
tagged “Aba-made” came from this illustrious city in the Igbo
heartland. The Aba inventive and entrepreneurial spirit was to
finally surrender to relentless regimes of arid economic policies
that left it comatose for decades.


Recently, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu
embarked on an investment mission to the United States of
America to engage with a cross section of investors in line with
his larger goal and campaign promise of a rapid economic and
industrial development of Abia State especially Aba.


The mission organized by the Public-Private Partnership {PPP}
Investment Promotions team in the Governor’s office was an
astounding success judging by the number of ‘Letters of Intent’
and Memorandums of Understanding {MOU’s} executed during the
mission.

 Governor Ikpeazu and his investment team on arrival to
Washington DC were treated to a modest but high-powered
welcome reception by a selection of Diasporan Abians residing in
Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia axis in an event tagged
‘Meet and Greet’.

The Meet and Greet event afforded Governor Ikpeazu an
opportunity to share his passion and vision for Abia with the high
profile Abians in attendance. He solicited for their support in his
crusade to make Abia State the envy of other states as number
one industrial destination in Nigeria.

 The ambience was excellent
and fostered an establishment of friendship and trust between the
Governor and those in attendance. Attendees were pleased with
the direction of the Government and pledged their support and
commitment.

 In Washington DC, Governor Ikpeazu met with
Walter Corley of WCOR Associates and his Team Members.
WCOR Associates is a Washington D.C based lobbying company
and registered Foreign Agent to several multinational companies.


The aim of the meeting was to formally engage Mr. Corley to
serve as link between Abia State and foreign companies in the
United States seeking to do business in Abia State. The
partnership will see Abia State and products from Abia State
professionally presented to markets in the United States thus
boosting exports from Abia State to the United States and the
international market.

Immediate outcome of the meeting were the identification of two
Fortune 500 Companies with interest in leather, garment works
and automobile Assembly investment in Abia State.

 The meeting
also explored modalities for attracting to Abia State potential
donor agencies and free technical expertise to support traders
and entrepreneurs in the state.

Governor Ikpeazu and his
investment team also met with Senior officials of the State of
Maryland and agreed to execute an MOU for assistance,
collaboration and cooperation in the following areas: Education:

a.
Introduction of a Botanical or Phytomedicine degree program in
Abia State University: {This refers to using a plant’s seeds, berries,
roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes}


1. Integrating Prince Georges County Community College
programs with Abia State Polytechnic. Health:

 a. Assist with a
template and process for the validation of the burgeoning herbal
medicine market in Abia drawing from the Maryland experience.


b. Source for funding from USAID, World Bank and Bill Gate
Foundation.

 Agriculture: a. Assist in the development of a poultry
village or cluster

c. Assist in the development of broiler and
hatchery. c. Assist in educating Abia farmers on trending farming
techniques. Tourism: Assist Abia State in establishing a vibrant
Eco-Tourism industry.


This will enhance capacity building and employment opportunities,
ecotourism is an effective vehicle for empowering local
communities in Abia State to fight against poverty and to achieve
sustainable development through appreciation for nature, local
society and culture.

 Some other landmark achievements during
the mission include:

A draft MOU for the building of a $100
Million Dollar Hospital in Aba by African Integrated Development
Enterprise headed by Dr. Chidi Achebe {Son of respected novelist
Chinua Achebe} Draft MOU with Professor. Samuel Achilefu,
scientist and inventor of the ‘Cancer Goggle’ on Technology


Transfer and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Cancer
Research and Diagnosis in Abia State Draft MOU between College
of Optometry Abia State University and Pennsylvania College of
Optometry at Salus University for Institutional Research,
partnership and collaboration between Staff and Students of both
Universities leading ultimately to a $50Million long-term
investment into the Abia State University Adoption of a Sister-City
agreement between Trenton, New Jersey and Aba, Abia State for
Bilateral Trade facilitation.


Highlights of the Mission were: Presentation of Keynote address
by Governor Ikpeazu at the African Diaspora Business Initiative
Forum held at the Erivan K Haub School of Business, St.
Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Presentation of
American Flag by the Governor of Maryland, Freedom Pin by the
Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey and a Unity Bell by the City of
Philadelphia. Truly, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu in his maiden
investment mission to America, saw, explored and achieved and
to God be the Glory!




 Hon. Lawrence Okezie Odoemelem Senior Special Assistant to

the Governor on Investment Promotions.