By KINGSLEY OKOYE

The 2024 South East Business and Investment Summit (SEBIS) will begin on Tuesday in Enugu, Dr Ifedi Okwenna, Executive Secretary of SEBIS, has said.

The summit, designed to set up a one-billion-dollar investment fund to support growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the region, will be held from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13.

Okwenna, in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, said the summit would be chaired by Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.

According to Okwenna, Sam Ohuabunwa, former Chairman of Pfizer, is one of the key speakers.

He said the Lead Private Sector Partner of Enyimba Economic City (EEC), and major sponsor of the summit, Mr Darl Uzu, would also speak at the summit.

Okwenna said Uzu would speak on the topic “Making South East the Manufacturing Floor in Africa: The Audacity of Enyimba Economic City.’’

According to him, Dr Godknows Igali, an expert on economic diplomacy, who served 10 Nigerian Economic Missions and former Ambassador to all Scandinavian Countries, would chair the premium business session.

He said a keynote speech would be delivered by Prof. Ken Ife, who is London Enterprise Ambassador and Chief Economic Strategist in ECOWAS Commission and Chairman of Enugu State Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation.

Okwenna said another keynote speech would be delivered by Dr Reuben Bamidele, National Programme Officer, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

The executive secretary said the keynote speeches would centre on enhanced capital inflow and innovative financing for Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) growth and development in South-East, Nigeria.

He said the speeches would also focus on “Institutional Programmes, Technologies, Innovations and Other Leadership Packages for Unlocking the South-East Economy.”

Okwenna listed other thematic topics to be discussed at the summit as: “Agriculture and Food Security unlocking the potential of the South East for increased investment.

“Developing Partnership for Infrastructural Revitalisation, Bridging Financing Gap and Sustainable Management in the South-East Nigeria.

“Unlocking the Energy Market and Adequate Energy Needs for Manufacturing and Development in South-East.

“Protection of Investment and Government Support for Businesses in the South-East.”

He listed the resource persons at summit to include, Prof. Charles Ogbologu, Vice-Chancellor, Maduka University, Ekwegbe-Nsukka, Enugu; Mrs Nkiru Chime, acting Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank.

Others are Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Minister of Power and Chairman Geometrics Power Ltd, and Dr Nkemji Ajoke, Chief Executive Officer, Investment Managers and Assets Consulting Limited (IMACL).

According to him, Dr Charles Odii, Director General Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), will make a presentation titled “Revitalising SME in South-East as Bedrock for increased Investment, Economic Stimulation and Growth in the Zone.’’

He said that Mr Joseph Osanipin, the Director-General of Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Commission (NADDC), would speak on “Making the South-East Nigeria’s Automotive Hub.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SEBIS, a public private sector initiative, powered by Enyimba Economic City, in collaboration with South East Chambers of Commerce and Enugu Chamber of Commerce, holds from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13 in Enugu.

Enyimba Economic City will, during one of the sessions, commence matchmaking with its SMEs partners in India, who are interested in manufacturing in Nigeria with Nigerian counterparts. (NAN)