- The German government has expressed its eagerness to strengthen economic cooperation with the government and people of Enugu State.
- Mbah emphasised that the $30 billion GDP target his administration set for itself, though high, was realisable through private sector investments and international cooperation.
Germany has expressed its eagerness to strengthen economic cooperation with the government and people of Enugu state, especially in terms of energy, agriculture, trade, and investment.
German consul general, Weert Börner, made this known when he led a delegation of the German business community and the German Corporation for International Cooperation, (GIZ), on a working visit to Governor Peter Mbah in Enugu.
The industrial giant said it chose Enugu State as one of its three business and investment destinations in southern Nigeria, given its findings on improved ease of business under the Dr Peter Mbah Administration.
Börner said the visit continued discussions in Lagos in 2023 on increasing German cooperation with Enugu State in the aforementioned sectors.
“So, I am very happy to be here in Enugu to increase and deepen our conversation about this cooperation. I am also very happy that the delegation with me is comprised of representatives of the DHK (Deutsche Handels Kompetenz), which is our chamber in Lagos for industry and commerce; GIZ, our international cooperation agency; and Siemens Energy, a private company that is already doing a lot in Nigeria to improve electricity and energy sector.
“We get a lot of news from the Nigerian media and through our office that Enugu State and its government have improved a lot in the structuring process to get business done more easily to improve the infrastructural basis for joint engagement.
“We are very happy about this development. The German government concentrated more on specific states within the Nigerian federal system. And those states from the south are Ogun, Abia, and Enugu State. So, this is why I am here to get our cooperation on a higher and more intense level,” the envoy stated.
While appreciating the Germans for choosing Enugu State as one of their economic partners, Governor Peter Mbah said his administration was very ready and willing to partner with the German government and businesses.
Mbah emphasised that the $30 billion GDP target his administration set for itself, though high, was realisable through private sector investments and international cooperation. He added that Nigeria’s much-needed economic growth could only come from the states, not the centre.
“I want to express our deep appreciation for selecting Enugu as one of the three southern states you want to partner with.
“We are excited about this essentially because though we are subnational, our ambition and the goals we have set for ourselves are national in scale.
“We plan to grow the economy to an unprecedented point. If you look at the target we set for ourselves to grow the economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion in the next seven years. It appears too ambitious because you are talking about a sevenfold growth and a compounded annual growth rate of 27 per cent. Still, we think it is realisable because we are looking at unlocking a lot of the economic potentials of the state that have not been touched.”
The governor assured the German government and businesses of massive opportunities in the areas of agriculture, energy, trade and investment.
He equally urged the German delegation to take advantage of the state’s extensive work in institutional strengthening, progressive policies, and improved regulations in the electricity sector through partnership and investment.