Seaports, SMEs in focus, as Warri holds first ever economic summit

AHEAD of the proposed dredging of the long-abandoned Warri and Koko Ports, the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State of Delta State is organizing its first economic summit in order to position itself for the revival of maritime business engagements.

Speaking on Wednesday on the two-day economic summit coming up May 17 and 18 2018, chairman of the local government, Hon. Michael Tidi said the economic summit would provide perfect business opportunities for investor within and outside the state.

Nigerian Tribune reports that seasoned resource persons are drawn from diplomatic corps, National Economic Team, policymakers and federal and state legislators, among others.

They will be presenting papers on sub-themes such as “youth empowerment for sustainable development,” “local government as enablers of doing business,” “the city as SME incubator – low tech lessons from Global South” and “sustainable public finance for local government.”

About 550 participants drawn from all walks of life are expected to grace the summit next week, which is tagged: “Warri Rising.”

Hon Tidi said the summit would help to identify key comparative advantages of the oil-rich city.

He said besides a conversation about business conditions in Warri, two major outcomes were expected after the summit.

According to him, the two major expected outcomes include: identifying few key sectors where Warri can be number one or two within the next three years and identifying what can be done to revive maritime trade in Warri within six months.

“There will be industry-specific business roundtable which will benchmark implementation of these summit outcomes,” Tidi noted.

Chief, among benefits of the economic summit, the chairman added, would be to provide employment for youths particularly in the areas of skills acquisition and SMEs.

Hon. Tidi, therefore, urged youths in the oil-rich city to behave well and cooperate with government and businesses to put Warri back on the map of a business destination.

Meanwhile, chairman of the steering committee of the Warri Economic Summit Group, E. O. Jakpa Esq., while throwing more lights on the event, stated that the objectives of the summit will include:

“To identify and articulate issues militating against the developmental aspirations of Warri and tailor government policies to suit the needs of commerce and industry in the city.

Others are to “draw national and international attention to the economic and security challenges attendant on the non-dredging of the approaches to Warri seaport, identify growth and profit centres in the economy of Warri outside oil and raise national and international advocacy for stakeholders to treat the development of Warri beyond tokenism.”

Warri Economic Summit 2018 is being organised in conjunction with the Warri Economic Summit Group, New Wave Metro International and several other organisations.

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