By NewsBits
The Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NSCCIMA) recently took its concerted efforts to sketch a global business and economic identity for the geo-cultural zone to the next level. It hosted a business insight round table where conversations were held to harness ideas towards the accomplishment of the long-sought objective.
At the Round Table which held inside the cozy conference hall of Ikenga Hotel, Nsukka’s hospitality industry flagship, the Chamber led the conversations with a power point presentation on economic clusters and networks as the key to business and economic development of any community. It cited the examples of Onitsha Plastic cluster, Aba Garment and Leather clusters, Nnewi Automobile cluster and left a question in the air … Nsukka, “what clusters?”
Going further, the presentation delivered with scholarly finesse by the new Director General of the Chamber, Mr. Uchenna Nnadi, suggested two cluster possibilities in which Nsukka has economic comparative advantage namely, Virtual Commodity Exchange and ICT Hub clusters on the one hand, and Integrated Commodity Produce cluster covering the famous Nsukka Yellow Pepper (Ose Nsukka), Nsukka Honey, Palm Produce, Cashew, Rice, and Cassava.
Nnadi explained that the virtual commodity exchange and ICT hub clusters would tap from the concentrated presence of numerous higher institutions of learning including the world-renowned University of Nigeria, Nsukka, while the commodity produce cluster would exploit Nsukka’s comparative advantage in the commercial production and export of the identified commodities.
The Presentation concluded with the traditional roles of a Chamber of Commerce in bullet points thus: Gather, aggregate and present business community views and proposals regarding economic legislation, tariffs and business promotion to the government, local and international communities.
Collect, store, analyze and share data on commerce, industry, mines, and agriculture with local and international business communities through linkages with sister chambers of commerce across the globe. Nurture and mentor entrepreneurs for business promotion and growth. Coordinate collaboration between government and the people for economic development purposes and objectives.
The round table was organized in collaboration with an international Honey produce and marketing company, Aku-Jofran Ltd. And a budding International Network Marketing organization with headquarters in Nigeria, Dynace Global Ltd. Highlights of the programme included lectures by the two business organizations on “Apiculture (Bee-Farming) And Its Strategic Relationship with Crop Pollination of Ose Nsukka And Other Crops” and “21st Century Network Marketing,” respectively.
Speaking to the Press after the event, the Vice President, Media, Publicity and Trade Promotions, Mr. Amaechi Agboeze, said the business roundtable was just the latest of several efforts of the Chamber to place Nsukka geo-political zone in the business and economic map of the world.
He recalled the Nsukka Business and Economic Development Blueprint which was recently launched at the CEC Auditorium of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the annual Nsukka Trade Fairs and the concerted drive for the commercial production and export of Nsukka Yellow Pepper (Ose Nsukka) complemented with the global recognition and approval of Ose Nsukka as a GI Commodity. GI meaning geographic indication is a sign used to identify and distinguish products that have specific geographical origin and possess unique qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. GI status gives a commodity a unique identity and global recognition and patent protection plus premium pricing in the international market.
According to Mr. Agboeze “in Late 2021 Nsukka Chamber of Commerce tapped into the initiative of The Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (Afripi), an EU funded Project, and by the special grace of God, obtained GI status for Ose Nsukka. This milestone achievement made Ose Nsukka Nigeria’s number one GI Commodity and placed it on the world map alongside other renowned international GI brands like Champagne from Champagne region in France and Tequila from the city of Tequila in Mexico.”
