by Loretta Alfred
The Imo State government and the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) at the weekend laid the foundation for the building of African Quality Assurance Centre located on Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Road, Ngor Okpala, Imo State.
The centre is expected to not only encourage the production of goods by industries but also remove trade barriers in the global market as it affects Nigeria and Africa, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma said at the brief groundbreaking ceremony which had officials of both the state government and Afreximbank in attendance.
The centre will also test products for export from the South-East region in particular and the country in general, ensuring they certify international standard requirements, said the governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Industries, Mines and Solid Minerals, Ernest Ibejiako.
“It will encourage capacity building of industries in Nigeria, as it is only the second of the Centre in the country,” he said.
He further said the presence of the centre in the state would attract industrialists wishing to produce for the international market to establish their industry in the state, “since it will be easy for them to test their products and be able to export and import”.
The Commissioner, on his part, commended Governor Uzodimma’s efforts in attracting the centre to the South-East and Imo State in particular, saying, “It is in line with the Governor’s passion to make the region an industrial hub of Nigeria and West Africa at large.”
He advised indigenes of the host community to “support the project, cooperate with the construction company and ensure there is no security threat to both workers and their materials”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Manager, Export Development of Afreximbank, Mr. Amr Ali, who led the bank’s team, said in line with its mandate, Afreximbank introduced the African Quality Assurance Centre initiative to address non-tariff barriers to African trade.
He said the centre would “offer testing, inspection and certification services for made-in-Africa products” and ensure that African goods meet best international standards, enabling them to compete effectively in the global market.
“The facility in Imo State is a significant step towards vision, as it will offer critical quality assessment services,” he said.
The centre’s services, Ali said, would also address the pressing need for quality assurance assessment in the oil and gas sector.
“A study revealed that Imo State is strategically positioned for the project, because of the increase of oil and gas activities and proximity to resource regions,” he said.
The Afreximbank representative further said that the centre located in Imo State would bridge the gap of sending oil and gas and other products for export from Nigeria abroad for quality assurance tests.
He therefore solicited the support of the government and people of Imo State to bring the project to fruition, while commending the Uzodimma administration’s commitment to fostering development and innovation.
The event was witnessed by the Governor’s Chief Political Adviser/ Head of Political Bureau, Enyinaya Onuegbu; Chief Technical Advisor to the Governor, Bola Adigun; General Manager, Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), Nzewodo Nkemakolam; General Manager, Imo State Orientation Agency (IMSOA), Ethelbert Okere, among others.
