From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has boosted the country’s manufacturing and export indexes with the licencing of the Abuja Industrial Park (ZEBERCED) Free Zone with an initial 150 million US dollar investment portfolio.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the Head of Corporate Communications of the Authority, Martins Odeh PhD said the Managing Director of NEPZA, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi in his remark while handing over the Operating Licence to the Turkish owners of the private zone, revealed that the new business ecosystem sitting on 250 hectares would be home to over 170 factories and to generate 40,000 employment.
Dr Ogunyemi, also the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, further explained that the zone, which would be located in Idu Industrial layout Phase IV, could greatly impact the nation’s economy through sustained export of manufactured goods.
“Today marks another excellent moment for us in the Authority as we continue to deliver on our mandate of managing the Free Trade Zone scheme in line with the Federal Government directive.
“This latest Abuja Industrial Park Free Zone will change the business configuration of the Federal Capital City, spur the landscape for global export competitiveness, and boost the country’s employment index.
“Let me congratulate those behind this loft project and encourage other local and international players to explore the country’s free zone scheme as it offers some of the best global incentives,’’ Dr Ogunyemi said.
Mr Adil Kurt, Managing Director of Abuja Industrial Park (ZEBERCED) Free Zone, expressed satisfaction with the one-stop-shop policy of the government that sped up the registration process, adding that the zone would be the ideal hub for manufacturing and export.
