Keywords: Business, Investment
After being ranked as the third most difficult state in Nigeria to do business by the World Bank in 2010 and little progress by 2014, Anambra State established the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) with a goal to reverse this negative status, and further attract, promote, manage and protect investments in the state. In pursuing its objectives, the ANSIPPA initiative identified the key areas of interest for investment and partnership with both local and foreign investors. Interestingly, I was ANSIPPA’s first Executive Director and my tenure saw over N150 billion ($400m) in additional investments attracted to the state. Some of these investments include Coscharis farms - $100m, Lynden Poultry Farms - $40m and Anambra Delfarms Ltd - $60m. Today, ANSIPPA employs over 50 people, has created about 5000 direct jobs and attracted investments to the State in the tune of US$50billion. It now serves as an investment driver and a special purpose vehicle for realizing Anambra State Strategic Economic Blueprint and pillars of economic development: agriculture, industrialization, trade and commerce, oil and gas, logistics, and creative economy. The initiative has become the catalyst of the State’s growing reputation as a destination for investment in Nigeria.