UMUAHIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 6TH EDITION
BY BENJAMIN KALU, UMUAHIA.
The Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (UCCIMA) held it’s 6th edition of the Abia State Small and Medium Enterprise Forum in collaboration with the Wider Perspectives Limited, to address the issues facing small business owners in the state, and also to seek for solutions, towards solving them.
The event took place at a hotel called Rapha, along the the state secretariat road, Umuahia. The SME operators, that attended the event, were more than 80.
During his remarks, the president, Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Chidi Nkem Aruoma explained to the SME operators in the state, the need of the forum, which he said, is focused on helping the small and medium scale operators gaining a wider reach, by assisting those involved, in accessing financial support, for them to grow in their business.
He disclosed that, the Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, known as UCCIMA and other investment partners is ready to provide an enabling environment for the business owners in the state, to enable them be successful, hence the theme of this year 6th edition of the SME forum, building capacity for the readiness of the Global Market.
Chatting with the Journalists, Nkem Aruoma, noted that the SME operators story is gradually changing for a better one, as the business owners, can now have a sense of belonging, now they have access to funding, training, empowerment materials, unlike what was obtainable before now.
In her remark, the managing director of Wider Perspectives Limited, Mrs Hanson Edughom spoke on the Foot Print in SME Development. She mentioned some of the objectives of the forum, which includes The showcase investment opportunities in the SME Value Chain. Maximize Business Opportunities through Business to Business connect. Connect SMEs to large buyers of goods and services. Create jobs and wealth. Explore export opportunities, Advocacy for enabling business environment and so on
During his keynote address, Maxi Sam Ohuabunwa, the chairman, Abia Tink Tank Group, spoke on the building capacity for global readiness.
In their separate remarks, the invited guests, including the commissioner for SME Development, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, focused on the building capacity for global market readiness.
