Organised Private Sector key to attracting investment — WACCIMA boss

The Warri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture has urged the Delta Government to collaborate with the Organised Private Sector to attract investment to the state.
Simon Asite, the outgoing President of WACCIMA, said one of the greatest challenges was the failure of the government to recognize Chamber’s role in the development of the economy.
He spoke with journalists on the sideline of the 55th Annual Business Luncheon/Inauguration of New Executive of the chamber on Thursday night in Warri.
According to him, the economy cannot run effectively without the private sector.
Asite said: “The Chamber of Commerce is like a state in Europe, China and other parts of the Western world and the president is like a governor; nobody plays with the Chamber.
“I do not see the reason why our government is not doing the needful. We are not challenging them but we are only saying do the right thing, create the enabling environment for business to thrive.
“So, government as a matter of importance should pay good attention to the organised private sector to speedily attract investment and develop the economy.”
Asite listed successful advocacy for peace in the area and dredging of the Warri River as well as creating public awareness about the chamber as some of his achievements while in office.
He advised the new WACCIMA President, Patricia Idiakhoa, to build on his legacies and not to abandon ongoing programmes.
Idiakhoa said: “The new president should not abandon the programmes initiated by the outgoing administration, particularly the Warri Peace and Development Corridor to bring together stakeholders in Delta to ensure a permanent peaceful environment for investors.”
In her acceptance speech, Idiakhoa solicited the support of members to move the chamber forward, adding that her focus will be on the establishment of cottage industries in the area.
He said: “We already have a theme which is “Ease of Doing Business in Delta”, together we can achieve it.
“Cottage industry is very important because if you start small, you can build on it instead of starting big and begin to go down.
So my dream is to see that more cottage industries spring up in the state.
“I will work with women and the youth because youths are the future leaders and the women are the ones helping to bring up youths.
“If you empower the women and the youth, the world will be a better place for us to live.”