NEPZA, C/River Govt To Revamp Tinapa FTZ,

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, and the Cross River State Government have agreed to work out a realistic modality to revive the moribund Tinapa Free Trade Zone.

This agreement was reached when the new NEPZA Managing Director, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi paid a courtesy visit on Governor Bassey Otu in Calabar.

Dr Ogunyemi, expressed delight on the State’s desire to revamp the unique free trade zone ostensibly established to service the entertainment industry.

“First, let me appreciate the excellent achievements already recorded by the Gov. Bassey Otu-led administration which will now holistically reposition the state for the attraction of investments and for industrialization. And we have seen how the administration’s effort at preserving life and property in the state is yielding the desired result, including ensuring that Calabar is relisted among attractive spots for large scale business activity”.

According to him, NEPZA is prepared to extend expertise and cooperation to ensure that the desire of the administration to revamp the almost moribund Tinapa Free Trade Zone is realized and help to lubricate the film industry in Nigeria.

The NEPZA Managing Director, however, urged the State Government to upscale its interest and participation at the Calabar Free Trade Zone, noting that such involvement was vital to the overall promotion and preservation of the place.

He also solicited the State Government’s intervention on activities of unwanted tax operators in the state whose actions regularly impugn on the incentives the NEPZA Act had granted freezone operators and enterprises within the zones.

On his part, Gov. Otu, who expressed delight on the visit of the NEPZA Managing Director, said his administration was opened for a more robust cooperation with the Authority.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr Peter Odey, the Governor solicited NEPZA’s assistance and cooperation in order to revamp the Tinapa Free Trade Zone without further delay.

Edited Grace Namiji By Mathew Ayoola